This appeal is directed against the Decree and Judgment of the learned Subordinate Judge of Vellore, in O.S. No. 69 of 1954.

It is a statutory suit filed under section 62 of the Madras Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act (hereinafter referred to as the Act) by the persons aggrieved who consist of Sri Ramanasramam by its Secretary G. Sambasiva Rao, T. N. Venkaraman, A.W. Chadwick, S. S. Cohen, Framji Dorabji, A. Devaraja Mudaliar and C. Somasundaram Pillai. The defendant is the Commissioner for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, Madras. The question for consideration is whether the component part of Sri Ramanasramam, by name Sri Mathru-bootheswara Swami Temple, an institution registered under the Societies Registration Act, (Exhibit A-23, dated nth September, 1950), is a temple as contemplated by section 6 (17) of the Act, as has been held by the learned Subordinate Judge or a public religious trust as has been contended by the plaintiffs, with the following objects viz., to carry out the provisions in the Will of Sri Bhagwan, to administer Sri Ramanasramam, Sri Mathrubootheswara Swami temple, the Samadhi of Sri Bhagwan Ramana Maharishi with the prope