We are of the view that this appeal by the plaintiffs has to be allowed on a short ground which will presently appear. The appellant filed an application under section 57 (b) of Madras Act XIX of 1951 before the Deputy Commissioner for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments. He held that the appellant was the sole hereditary trustee of Sri Ramaswamy Perumal Temple at Karimbiyul village in Tiruthuraipundi taluk. The first respondent appealed to the Commissioner (second respondent) against that order and claimed that he was a joint hereditary trustee which was denied by the plaintiff. The Commissioner accepted his claim and allowed the appeal. This was followed by the present suit under section 62 of the Act.

It is common ground that the office of trusteeship in the temple is hereditary. The controversy centres round the competing claims of the appellant and the first respondent. The appellant would say that he is the sole hereditary trustee but according to the first respondent, he is a joint hereditary trustee. On the view we have taken, we do not propose to go into the merits of the rival claims.

The jurisdiction of the Deputy Commissioner under section 57 (b) is c