FIT PERSON Vs. NILAMBUR KOVILAKAM COMMON PROPERTIES

JUDGEMENT

(1.) A. The Appeals: These three writ appeals are filed against the Order dtd. 23/10/2013 in W.P. No.4135 of 2013 and relate to Sri Vettaikorumagan Temple, Namabalakota, Gudalur Taluk, Nilgiris District. W. A. No.635 of 214 has been filed by the Revenue Divisional Officer, Gudalur to whom a direction is issued by the Learned Judge to entrust the temple to the private entity, the first respondent. W.A.No.812 of 2014, has been filed by a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, which claims to represent the Mandadan Chetti community living in the area, namely "The Nilgiris District Mandadan (Moundadan) Chetti Community Association", whichwas the second respondent in the writ petition. W.A. No.1243 of 2014 has been filed by the 'Fit Person, Arulmigu Vettaikorumagan Thirukoil' appointed by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department to the temple, as a third party after obtaining leave of this Court.

(2.) For the sake of convenience, the three appellants are referred to as "The RDO', "The Fit Person" and "The Mandadan Association" in this judgment. The contesting first respondent/writ petitioner is referred to as " Nilambur Kovilakam". The department is referred to as "HR&CE" and the Sivan Malai Valarchi Matrum Samuga Nala Arakkatalai as the "Devotees Trust". B. Facts Leading to the present Appeals :

(3.) Originally, the entire Gudalur Taluk of the Nilgiris District was part of the Janmam estate, namely Gudalur Janmam Estate. The Gudalur Janmam estates were the eastern most part of the Nilambur Kovilakam, part of the Malabar State originally ruled by the Raja of Nilambur. There is a temple, known as Vettaikorumagan Temple or Vettarayasamy Temple in which the main deity "Betarayasvami' or 'Vettarayaswami", the "Lord of the Hunt" and the deity is represented in the form of a Sword. The temple structure is like any other Kerala Hindu Temple Architecture and is situated on an extent of land admeasuring 0.35.0 Hectare or Acre 0.86 cents in Cherumulli Village S. No. 666/1, Gudalur Taluk, Niligiris District.