1. Defendants 1 and 2 are the appellants in the Second Appeal. The suit O.S. No. 389 of 1979 was filed by the respondents herein as representing the temple Arulmigu Muthallamman Temple, Vellakarai village, before the District Munsif Court, Cuddalore, for a declaration that Arulmigu Muthallamman Temple, Vellakarai village, is a denominational temple exclusively belonging to the Vannia Community of Vellakarai Village and for a permanent injunction restraining the appellants and the third defendant Area Committee from interfering with the affairs of the Management of the said temple and its properties.

2. The case as set out in the plaint was that Arulmigu Muthallamman Temple situate in Vellakarai village was a very ancient temple and the same was founded by the members of Vannia Community of Vellakarai village. The present temple structure was actually constructed by the members of Vannia Community of Vellakarai village out of the funds contributed by the Vannia Community. The entire management of the temple had always been with the Vannia Community. The festivals were celebrated in the suit temple by the members of Vannia Community of Vellakarai by collecting the funds fr