Mysuru: The Mysuru royal family, which has been fighting for control of the Bengaluru palace and its grounds, has won a small victory with the Supreme Court ruling in its favour on 15.39 acres of the grounds.
The court ordered that the royal family be compensated for the land acquired for road widening under Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) as promised.
However, the nine-judge bench still not constituted to decide over the dispute on 400 acres of the palace grounds. The present verdict is seen as a setback for the state government as it could set a precedent in the other appeals filed before the Supreme Court by the royal family.
Maharani Pramoda Devi welcomed the verdict, but regretted that it had come after the death of her husband, Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, who had fought for the family’s rights all his life.
The present case dates back to 2009 when the BBMP acquired 15.39 acres of the palace grounds for widening the Maharshi Road (Bellary – New Airport Road) and Jayamahal Road adjacent to it under Transfer of Development Rights (TDR). But in 2011, the then government backtracked and offered to pay a paltry compensation of Rs 25 lakh for the property whose current market value is around Rs 1,300 crore.
In the 39-page report submitted to court in February, Bangalore Urban DC GC Prakash observed that the legal heirs have utilized Palace Grounds and built “continuous and permanent” structures on at least 48 sites. These are being used as convention and exhibition halls for commercial purpose over the past three to 12 years.
Bangalore Palace was built by Rev. Garrett, first principal of Central High School in Bangalore, now known as Central College. Construction started in 1862 and completed in 1944. Mysore Maharaja bought it. Modelled on Windsor Castle in England, the palace is a meticulously executed structure in authentic style, involving round arches, battlements and crown-pinnacles, turrets and graceful bay windows.
The palace and its immediate neighbourhood of around 10 acres was in possession of Srikantadatta Wadiyar. He had moved out of the palace, where only guests were occasionally hosted.
