BALASUBRAHMANYAN, J.—

1. These three appeals have been brought before us under S. 30 of Tamil Nadu Act 30 of 1963. Sri Varadarajaperumal temple of Pollachi, by its managing trustee is the appellant in all these appeals. The temple was the grantee of a minor inam comprising lands bearing O.S. No. 173 and 175 of the total extent of 19-58 acres in Pollachi village. The grant was made by the Poligar of Ramapatnam. The terms of the original grant are not available, but the inam fair register shows that it was a devadayam religious inam of a permanent character given rent-free for the support of the temple. The inam was confirmed in the year 1863 under title deed No. 161. On the abolition of the minor inam under Tamil Nadu Act 3 of 1963, the Settlement Tahsildar No. II, Gobichettipalayam, initiated an enquiry for the purpose of issue of ryotwari patta. The respondents 1 and 2 in S.T.A. 174 of 1974 were in possession of 4 ac, 2700 sq. ft. in T.S. No. 256/3. The 1st respondent in S.T.A. 181 and 210 of 1974 was in possession of T.S. 254/20 of the extent of O. 25345 sq.ft. and T.S. No. 256/7 of the extent of 2 ac. 24115 sq. ft. All of them appeared before the Settlement Tahsildar a