Alfred Henry Lionel Leach, C.J.

1. The petitioner is the head of an ancient and well-known math, the Tiruvannamalai Math at Kunnakudi. As head of the math he is the trustee of a group of five temples, known as the Anjukovil Devasthanams, Kunnakudi. The Madras Hindu Religious Endowments Board, the respondent (hereinafter referred to as "the Board") has notified these temples under Chap. VI-A of the Madras Hindu Religious Endowments Act, 1926, with the object of taking the management of them out of the hands of the petitioner and placing it in the hands of an officer of its own choosing. The petitioner complains that in taking action under Chap.VI-A the Board has not acted bona fide, but in abuse of its powers, and asks the Court in certiorari proceedings to quash the orders of the Board which have resulted in the notification of the temples. A rule nisi has been issued and the Court has now to consider whether the rule should be made absolute.

2. From time immemorial the, head of the Tiruvannamalai math has been the trustee of the five temples and that the head of this math should be the trustee has been recognized by this Court. A scheme for the administration and management of