HIS HOLINESS DIGYA DARSHAN RAJENDRA RAM DOSS vs DEVENDRA DOSS

The Supreme Court ruled that succession to the office of Mohunt at the Tirupati Mutt is governed by custom, requiring the successor to be a North-Indian Brahmin and the senior-most disciple of the last Mohunt. The Court upheld the High Court's finding that the appellant R was not a North-Indian Brahmin, thus disqualifying him from succession. The Court also clarified that the doctrine of estoppel could not be invoked by R as he did not raise it in the lower court, affirming the High Court's decision that the respondent D, as a senior disciple of C, was entitled to succeed.