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PETITIONER: SRI KANYAKA PARAMESWARI ANNA SATRAM COMMITTEE & ORS. ETC.

       Vs.

RESPONDENT: THE COMMISSIONER, H.R.C. & E. & ORS. ETC.

DATE OF JUDGMENT:       27/03/1997

BENCH: K. RAMASWAMY, G.B. PATTANAIK

ACT:

HEADNOTE:

JUDGMENT:                             WITH            CIVIL APPEAL NOS. 8535/94 AND 1341/89                             AND                CIVIL APPEAL  NO. 2718 OF 1997       [Arising out of SLP (C) No. 8437/97 (CC-1840/89)                          O R D E R CA NOS.1340/86,  8535/94 & CA NO.2718/97 [Arising out of SLP (C) No. 8437/97 (CC-1840/89)      Delay condoned  and leave  granted in the special leave petitions, Application for intervention is dismissed.      The controversy raised in this appeal is covered by the judgment of  this Court  in Sri  Adi  Visheshwara  of  Kashi Vishwanath   Temple, Varanasi & Ors. Vs. The State of U.P. & Ors. [(1997) 3  SCALE 1)      In the  present case,  the appellants  Satram Committee claimed the  status of  as  a  denominational  temple  under Article 26  (d) of the constitution. The High Court has held that they  have the denominational status, but, nonetheless, it was  negatived on  the ground that the Managing Committee would be  appointed with  non-official and  official members under  the   A.P  Charitable   and  Religious   Institutions Endowment Act.  Thus, the appellants claimed the status of a denominational one  and the  Government has  questioned  the later direction.  Admittedly, the  Arya Vysya  Community  is having as  many as  102 gotras.  In other  words,  they  are representing a  large segment  of Hindus worshipping Goddess Matha Kanyakaparameswari. In the above cited case, the claim was that  the Hindus  who worship  God  Shiva  constitute  a denominational section  entitled to  the benefit of Articles 26(b) and  26(d) of   the  Constitution. A  Bench  of  three Judges, to  which    both of us were members, had considered the matter  in detail and held that Hindu Worshippers of God Shiva are  not a denominational section and, therefore, they are not  entitled to  the benefit  of Articles 26 (b) and 26 (d) of  the Constitution  for  management  of  the  Temples. Following the  above ratio,  we hold that the Hindu sections of the  Arya  vysya  Community  who  worship  Goddess  Matha Kanyakaparameswari are  not denominational  section for  the purpose of  Articles 26(b) and 26(d) of the Constitution. As a  consequence,   it  is   an  institution  Covered  by  the

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provisions of  the Endowments  Act.  Accordingly,  they  are entitled to  be administered  in the  light of  the law laid down by  this court  in Pannalal  Bansilal Patti  & Ors. Vs. State of A.P. [(1996) 2 SCC 498].      The appeal are accordingly dismissed. No costs. CA NO. 1341/86      Following the  above ratio,  this appeal is allowed. No costs.