In Brief
The Supreme Court examined whether a Deed of Settlement dated 1901 created a specific religious endowment under the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act 1959. The deed required descendants of Thoppulan Chettiar to continue charitable activities (distributing food and water to devotees) during Hindu festivals using the trust property. The Court held that since the charity benefited an uncertain and fluctuating body of persons (devotees) and was associated with Hindu festivals, it constituted a specific endowment for 'religious charity'. Consequently, civil courts lacked jurisdiction; the Commissioner must grant sanction for any property sale under the Act. The High Court's judgment was reversed and the civil suit dismissed.
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