This is a petition under Article 226 of the Constitution to quash the Resolution, dated February 18, 1960, of the Area Committee for Madras appointing three non-hereditary trustees for Sri Agatheeswarar and Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal temples, Nungambakkam. The petitioners are the wife and minor son respectively of the previous holder of the hereditary office of trusteeship in the temples. That the office of the trustee is hereditary appears to have been recognised by this Court in C.S. No. 656 of 1948 in which a scheme for management of the temples was settled. Respondents 2 to 4 are the non-hereditary trustees appointed as such by the said Resolution. Against the Resolution of the Area Committee, the petitioners would appear to have filed a revision to the Commissioner for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments but unsuccessfully. In W.P. No. 855 of 1958, this Court directed by a writ of mandamus that the Commissioner should recognise the first petitioner as the hereditary trustee in the place of her husband, who, it is said had been removed from the office on certain grounds which are not relevant to the present purposes.

The appointment of respondents 2 to 4 is impugne