The main legal point established in the judgment is the interpretation and application of Section 145 of the Code of Criminal Procedure to disputes regarding the management of a temple and the performance of puja therein.

William Ayling, J.

1. The first contention of petitioners (Palaniandi Pandaram and others) is that the dispute between the parties is not one falling within the purview of either Section 145 or Section 147 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The Joint Magistrate has omitted to specify the provision of law under which his order is passed: but the dispute is described as follows: "a dispute...concerning the management of Selva Vinayagar Temple and the lands attached thereto...and with regard to the performance of puja in that temple."

2. The dispute regarding the lands undoubtedly comes under Section 145 and petitioners Vakil does not now seek to attack the Order so far as it relates to the lands.

3. There remains the question of the management of the temple and the performance of puja therein.

4. To disputes of this kind, Section 147 seems" to me to be inapplicable. That section deals simply with disputes regarding "the use of any land or water." The words, land or water" are used in their ordinary significance without the extended meaning assigned to them as used in Section 145 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, by Clause 2 of that section. I entirely concur with the view taken in Guiram Ghoshal v. Lal Beliary Das 6 Ind. Cas. 182 : 14 C.W.N. 611 : 11 Cr.L.J. 292 : 12 C.L.J. 22 : 37 C. 578. that the words "use of any land or water" will not cover a right to perform puja in a temple; nor in my opinion would they cover the right of management of the temple itself. The ruling in Muhammad Musaliar v. Kunji Chek Musaliar 11 M. 323 : 2 Weir 117 was passed under the former Code of Criminal Procedure, in which the section was differently worded: the words were "to do or prevent the doing of anything in or upon any tangible immoveable property." It appears, if I may say so without presumption, to have been followed in Kader Batcha v. Kader Batcha Rowthan 2d M. 237 : 4 Cr.L.J. 58 without noticing the alteration in the section; and also in a recent case quoted to me [Chidambara Gurukkal v. Sengoda Gounden 25 Ind. Cas. 999 : 16 M.L.T. 427 : 27 M.L.J. 587 : 15 Cr.L.J. 671]. With the utmost respect I must dissent "from the two more recent cases and hold Section 47 of the Code of Criminal Procedure inapplicable.

5. On the other hand, I can see no reason why a dispute as to the management of the temple should not be dealt with under Section 145 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The Magistrate amplifies it in the body of his order into the actual management of the temple building itself," and it is obviously to be understood in this sense. This dispute is in effect a dispute as to the possession of the temple, in so far as a temple is ordinarily susceptible of possession; and the evidence adduced on both sides deals with such indicia of possession as the holding of the temple key. It is needless to say that a "temple" is a "building," vide Clause 2 of Section 145 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

6. If only the right to perform puja to a particular idol in the temple were in dispute, the matter might be different; but that in the present case is only a portion of the larger issue.

7. I, therefore, hold that the Magistrates proceedings were covered by Section 145 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

8. I am clearly of opinion that his jurisdiction was not barred by reason of Exhibit I.

9. Lastly, it is argued that his findings do not amount to a decision as to possession, within the meaning of Clause 6 of Section 145 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

10. The Magistrates order is not very happily worded but it seems to me to amount to this; he finds (and confirms) respondents possession of the temple subject to the single limitation of petitioners right to enter and perform puja to a certain idol (referred to as the "old" idol). This latter right is found to have been exercised by petitioner?, and they are confirmed in it.

11. Such a decision as to possession may be somewhat complicated; but any decision as to possession of a temple must be complicated