SWAMI PARAMATMANAND SARASWATI Vs. RAMJI TRIPATHI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The appellants, as plaintiffs, filed a suit under Section 92 of the Civil P.C. alleging breach of the Civil P.C. alleging breach of a trust created for a public purpose of a religions nature and praying for removal of the defendant, the head of the Math in question claiming title to the office under a will executed by the predecessor-in-office and for other reliefs. The District court dismissed the suit on the ground that the suit will not lie under Section 92 of the Civil P.C. The High Court, on appeal, upheld that judgment and, this appeal, by special leave, is directed against that judgment.

(2.) Adi Shankaracharya founded Maths at four centres in India about a thousand years ago. The Math with which we are concerned was established by him in Himalayas. This Math was known by the name of Jyotir Math or Jyotish Peeth. For Centuries, the existence of this Math was unknown to the public and even the place where the Math stood had to be found out. In 1940 a society known as Bharat Dharma Mahamandal of Kashi made an effort to discover the Math and the effort proved successful. The relics of the Math were found near Badrikashram. The land on which the relics were found along with certain other property on the banks of Varuna in kashi was acquired by the Society and thereafter the Society created an endowment of the land by a deed dated April 11, 1941 in favour of Jyotir Math and Swami Brahmanand Saraswati ('Brahmanand' for short), a man renowned for his piety and vedic Learning was installed as the Head of the Math.

(3.) Brahmanand died on May 20, 1953. Before his death he executed a will which was published on June 8, 1953. By the will, he nominated a panel of 4 persons in order of choice indicated in the will to succeed him as head of the Math. His first choice was Swami Shantanand Saraswati, respondent No.1. Respondent No.1 accepted the office. He was installed as Shankaracharya of the Math on June 12, 1953. Thereafter dispute arose among the worshippers of Jyotir Math. A section of the worshippers installed Swami Krishnabodhashram ('Krihnabodhashram for short) as the Shankaracharya of the Math on June 25, 1953, as according to them, Brahmanand did not execute any will nominating his successor, and even if he executed a will, it was not executed by him while he was in a sound disposing state of mind and that in accordance with the custom and the rules of the Math, they were entitled to instal a person nominated by them as the Head of the Math.