Row over custody of Mysuru throne takes a new twist

“The golden throne is taken out during Dasara from the Palace Board treasury for the sake of customs and traditions of the royal family. Although the issue of the custody of golden throne and golden howdah is in the Court, currently the custody is vested with the royal family and keys are with them, although it is being kept at the treasury of Palace Board. Permissions are being given by royal family for public viewing of the golden throne, on a special request. The district authorities should have had the courtesy to meet and request Ms Pramoda Devi Wadiyar to allow the golden throne for public viewing. Nobody from government personally approached Ms Wadiyar and requested her, for permission. The issue of insurance for golden howdah was reportedly a clerical error and it has been clarified by DC Ms C Shikha and sorted out. That is no connection between this and the restriction on the golden throne viewung,” Royal family sources clarified.

Palace Board Director Indramma said, “My initial two letters to office of royal family went in vain. I personally went and approached the office of the royal family as a representative of the government on Tuesday. They said the golden throne was taken out to fulfil their customs and it would hurt their sentiments if the cloth was removed. So we returned from the palace. It was only an honest attempt to make the historic golden throne available for public viewing. We only hoped that the inflow of tourists into the palace would increase,” she told Deccan Chronicle.