Wodeyars seek settlement of row

Princesses want dust to settle on Bangalore Palace Grounds

Seeking to end the 32-year-old legal battle over the ownership of Bangalore Palace Grounds, the Royal family of Mysore has approached the Karnataka government for an amicable settlement.

A delegation of the Royal family called on chief minister H D Kumaraswamy a couple of days ago and proposed an out-of-court settlement. Princesses Meenakshi Devi, Kamakshi Devi, Indirakshi Devi and Vishalakshi Devi, all daughters of the late maharaja Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar, met the chief minister to settle the ownership of their share of land in Bangalore Palace Grounds.

The five sisters own about 140 acres of Bangalore Palace Grounds facing the Ramana Maharshi Road. "We have proposed a joint venture project to the government. We intend to build a memorial in the name of our father and erect a commercial complex. We are ready to surrender a part of property to the government apart from withdrawing our appeal in the Supreme Court against the acquisition of the Bangalore Palace Grounds," princess Kamakshi Devi told reporters here on Thursday.

Each of the five sisters own 28 acres of land, which is rented out for exhibition, sports and entertainment purposes. "We received our share of the property in 1984. It has been 32 years since our father passed away. Yet, we have not been able to enjoy the property. We are under economic distress. We have waited enough and hence seek an immediate end to the row," she added.

The Bangalore Palace Grounds is 450 acres in the heart of the city. While the five daughters and their grandchildren own about 140 acres, Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar, the only son of Jayachamarajendra, owns 310 acres. "As of now, our brother is not party to the proposal placed before the government. We are seeking a settlement of only our share of property (140 acre)," the princesses stated.

In 1996, the Karnataka government had passed the Bangalore Palace Acquisition Act to take over the property. Subsequently, the Wodeyars appealed to the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the acquisition.

The case is still on. The assessment of wealth tax in relation to the Bangalore Palace Grounds is also pending before the court.

Chaduranga Kantharaj Urs, son of late Maharajakumari Gayathri Devi, pointed out that the government had approached them on several occasions seeking a share of the land for public utility like road widening.

"We urge the government to go in for an amicable settlement. There can be a tripartite agreement between government, property owners and developers," Urs said.