Govt awaiting SC order on illegal structures in Palace grounds

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today said the state government was awaiting Supreme Court's verdict in a case relating to illegal constructions at Palace Grounds in Bangalore.
Replying to BJP's S R Vishwanath during question hour in the Legislative Council, he said the government had notified the Bangalore Palace (Acquisition and Transfer) Act, 1996 on November 21, 1996 and the property has been vested in the government.
"The legal heirs have questioned the Act before the Supreme Court and the matter is still pending," he said.
Raising the issue, Vishwanath sought an update and demanded demolition of illegal structures at Palace Grounds.

As per the interim orders of the Supreme Court in 1998 and 2001, the government gave permission to hold programmes at Palace Grounds, Siddaramaiah said.
The government has set up a single window agency comprising eight officers under the chairmanship of Principal Secretary (DPAR) in 2007, he said adding that it meets fortnightly and reviews the applications of the legal heirs to conduct functions and accord permissions.
The Tahsildar of the Bangalore North Taluk had ordered demolition of illegal structures, which came up after 1997 inside Palace Grounds. The legal heirs had moved the court against the order, Siddaramaiah said.