VERUAREDDI RAMARAGHAVA REDDY AND ORS. vs KONDURU SESHU REDDY AND 2 ORS.

The Supreme Court held that Section 42 of the Specific Relief Act, 1877 is not exhaustive, allowing courts to grant declaratory decrees independently. The Court ruled that a worshipper's suit for declaring a compromise decree invalid was maintainable, as it sought substantial relief affecting the deity's rights in trust properties. The Court further held that the compromise decree was not binding on the temple since the deity was not a party to it, and the Commissioner lacked authority to represent the deity in the proceedings under Section 84(2) of the Madras Hindu Religious Endowments Act, 1927.