Teki Venkata Ratnam & Ors vs Dy. Commissioner, Endowment And Ors

The Supreme Court held that the Deputy Commissioner of Endowments has the authority to determine whether a temple is public or private under Section 87 of the Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions & Endowments Act, 1987. The Court clarified that the repeal of the 1966 Act does not negate the Deputy Commissioner's jurisdiction under the 1987 Act. The Court upheld the decision of the High Court, affirming the Deputy Commissioner's power to conduct such inquiries and resolve disputes regarding temple status.