PRAMATHA NATH MULLICK Vs. PRADYUMNA KUMAR MULLICK

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE questions raised by this appeal are of a wide and general importance. They have reference to the control and worship of a Hindu family idol. It may be explained that although one idol is referred to, called of course the Thakur, there were two others, the Thakurani, a female idol referred to in some of the papers as the consort of the Thakur, and there was also a third, a sacred or deified stone called the Salgram Sila. These three idols became the objects of the pious worship of the family of the founder, Mutty Lal Mullick, who originally installed them. But the points in the case can be more simply treated by referring to the one--namely, the principal idol the Thakur.

(2.) THE appeal is from a decree dated April 10, 1923, made by the High Court in Calcutta in its Civil Appellate Jurisdiction reversing a decree dated June 1, 1922, made by the same Court in its Original Civil Jurisdiction.

(3.) BEFORE entering upon the legal questions which were debated, their Lordships think it not inadvisable to state the family history, in so far as it concerns the installation of this idol. It was established and consecrated many years ago by a wealthy Hindu inhabitant of Calcutta, Babu Mutty Lal Mullick, in his family dwelling-house, in a Thakur Ghar, or room therein, set apart for worship.