Royal scion files PIL seeking properties of his lost kingdom

Seeking a right over properties worth of several crores of rupees from his "lost kingdom", a royal scion of the erstwhile state of Champaner in the Panchmahal district of Gujarat has filed a public interest litigation (PIL) before the Gujarat High Court.
Petitioner Rajendrasinh Thakor, the scion of the erstwhile princely state of Champaner, has submitted that the properties of the kingdom belonged to his forefathers and he is the heir of the kings of Champaner.
As per the 'title agreement' in the year 1860, the properties belonged to his ancestors and a Bombay High Court ruling in 1949 had also upheld that the royal properties belonged to them, his petition said.

The properties were attached by the Indian government after Independence, it said.
The properties include famous pilgrim places like 'Pavagadh' temple, which is on the UNESCO world heritage list, Dakore temple as well as Swaminarayan temple in Vadtal town, it said.
The petitioner's ancestors were founder trustees of these temples and pilgrimage spots as well as other properties of the erstwhile princely state, the PIL said.
Since "outsiders" have been running the administration of those properties, it is the right of petitioner to get all of that, it said, while pressing the demand.
Justice S H Vohra has posted the hearing of the PIL on November 11.