GURPUR GUNI VENKATARAYA NARASHIMA PRABHU& ORS. vs B.G. ACHIA, ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER, HINDURELIGIOUS AND CHA

The Supreme Court interpreted Section 6(17) of the Madras Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1951, clarifying that mere public admission to a temple does not imply dedication to the public. The Court held that the evidence did not support the inference that the temple was used as of right by the general Hindu community, as it was founded and managed by the Goud Saraswat Brahmin community. The High Court's finding was overturned, affirming the temple's status as a denominational temple rather than a public one.