The right to perform religious rituals in a religious institution by long usage and custom is a civil right and can be entertained by a civil court.

1. The question in this second appeal is whether the decree granted by the first appellate Court is sustainable in law. The first defendant Executive Officer, Arulmigu Kallalagar Devasthanam, Alagar Koil, Madurai is the appellant herein.

2. The plaintiffs filed the suit for declaration that they are entitled to the suit Mandpam and they are also entitled to possession of the appurtenant 42 cents and to perform Mandagapadi every year during Chitra festival. As a consequential relief they prayed for permanent injunction restraining the defendants from fencing around the Mandapam and the appurtenant land and for a mandatory injunction directing the first respondent-Executive Officer to take the Lord Sri Kallalagar to the Mandapam during every Chitra festival.

3. The defendants denied that the plaintiffs are entitled to the Mandapam or possession of the appurtenant land and contended that the mandapam and the appurtenant land has been in possession and use of the devasthanam and the plaintiffs are not entitled to the consequential relief of injunction prayed for.

4. The trial court (District Munsif, Melur) on consideration of the evidence adduced held that the plaintiffs are not entitled to the Mandapam and they are not entitled to the appurtenant land, and that both of them are in possession and use of the devasthanam. It further held that the plaintiffs are not entitled to the injunction prayed for. With these findings the trial court dismissed the suit.

5. On appeal by the plaintiffs the first appellate Court (Fourth Additional Subordinate Judge, Madurai) agreed with the findings of the trial court, but however, held that they are entitled to perform Mandagapadi. In the result, the first appellate Court decreed the suit only declaring that the plaintiffs are entitled to Mandagapadi. With regard to other prayers it confirmed the dismissal of the suit. As stated above, the first defendant Executive Officer has filed this second appeal.

6. It is argued that the first appellate Court has no jurisdiction to pass a decree as it did. It is submitted that the question of entitlement of the plaintiffs to perform Mandagapadi is a matter that shall be decided by the Deputy Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments and not by a civil court. In this connection S. 63 and S. 108 of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act are read out. S. 63 gives the Deputy Commissioner power to enquire into and decide certain disputes and matters. S. 108 bars a suit or legal proceedings, among other things, in respect of any dispute or matter for determining or deciding which provision is made in the Act. It is contended for the appellant first defendant that the point at issue i.e. whether the plaintiffs are entitled to perform Mandagapadi to Lord Kallalagar in the Mandapam in question is a matter that falls under S. 63(e) and therefore it must be decided only by the Deputy Commissioner. This is disputed.

7. As per the said provision i.e, S. 63(e) the Deputy Commissioner shall have power to enquire into whether any person is entitled by custom or otherwise, to any honour, emolument or perquisite in any religious institution and what the established usage of a religious institution is in regard to any other matter. According to the plaintiffs by long usage and custom they have right to perform Mandagapadi. According to the appellant first defendant, as per the second part of S. 63(e) the Deputy Commissioner shall have power to enquire into what the established usage of a religious institution is in regard to any other matter and the dispute in question i.e, whether the plaintiffs have by long usage and custom, right to perform Mandagapadi falls within that power of the Deputy Commissioner. But I find it difficult to accept this argument. The said part of S. 63(e) speaks about what the established usage of a religious institution is and not what the right of a person or persons by usage and custom in a religious institution i