BALA SHANKAR MAMA SHANKAR BHATTJEE AND ORS. vs CHARITY COMMISSIONER, GUJARAT STATE

The Supreme Court upheld the Gujarat High Court's ruling that the Kalika Mataji temple qualifies as a public trust under Section 2(13) and Section 2(17) of the Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950. The Court found that the High Court correctly determined the temple's status as a public temple, reversing the District Judge's declaration of it as a private property. The Court directed a fresh inquiry into the status of other temples involved in the case, emphasizing the need for accurate legal application in determining public trust properties.