Present: Lascelles C.J. and Grenier J.

RAMANATHAN v. KURUKKAL.

Hindu temple-Trustee's power to dismiss officiating priest-Customary law-Indian usages.

A trustee of a Hindu temple was held to be entitled to dismiss the officiating priest of the temple.

Grenier J.-Hindu temples in Ceylon are under the control and management of persons in whom the fabric is vested (1) by right of private ownership; (2) by grant or assignment of the owners of the land on which the temple is built; (3) by appointment by the congregation; (4) by deed of trust.

In India and Ceylon certain customary laws are recognized and observed as applying to the manager or trustee, not only in his capacity as such, but in his fiduciary relation to the congregation, in matters affecting the temporalities of the temple and their proper appropriation.

It is not right to say that there is no law in this country which recognizes the status of the manager or trustee of a Hindu temple. There is the Hindu customary law.. . . Whether these customs and usages have been imported from India, or have grown up amongst the Hindus of the country and possess the sa