R. BALAKRISHNA WARRIER vs SANTHA VARASSIAR & ANR.

The Supreme Court upheld the High Court's decision that the appellant's family has no hereditary right to perform Kazhakam services in the temples due to the abolition of the joint family system under the Kerala Joint Hindu Family System (Abolition) Act, 1975 (Act 30 of 1976). The Court affirmed that since the tarwad (family) has become extinct, no declaration can be granted in favor of a non-existing entity. The appeal was dismissed with no order as to costs, leaving the question of whether the Karaima right devolves on former members of the tarwad open for future consideration.