MAHANT BHAGWAN BHAGAT vs G. N. BHUGAT AND ORS.

The Supreme Court upheld the Patna High Court's decision reversing the decree in favor of the plaintiff-appellant, who claimed to be the duly installed Mahant of Turki Math. The Court emphasized that the devolution of Mahantship must adhere to the customs of the sect, which dictate that succession occurs from a Guru to a senior Chela, and that the deeds executed by the previous Mahant were in violation of these customs. The Court ruled that the appellant's claim to Mahantship was valid, and thus he was entitled to possession of the properties of the Math.