M.S.V. Raja & Anr vs Seeni Thevar & Ors

The Supreme Court upheld the judgment of the High Court affirming that the Arulighu Mariamman temple is a denominational temple under Article 26 of the Constitution, belonging to the Rajus community. The Court ruled that the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department's actions to appoint additional trustees violated the community's rights, as established under Section 63(b) of the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowment Act, 1959. The appeal by the defendants was dismissed, maintaining the lower courts' decisions that recognized the Rajus' rights over the temple administration.