COMMNR. OF ENDOWMENTS vs VITTAL RAO

The Supreme Court upheld the High Court's decision affirming the first appellate court's decree that Manik Rao was the hereditary Mutawalli of the Sri Jangli Vittobha Temple, rejecting the temple committee's claims. The Court noted that the land was gifted absolutely to Gunnaji, and the Government had no interest in it, thereby reinforcing the principles of property rights under the Hyderabad Endowment Rules. The Court dismissed the appeals filed by the State of Andhra Pradesh and the Temple Committee, confirming the lower courts' findings.