Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court on Monday issued notices to the Union home ministry, the state government and management of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan on a petition by Ms Shafiya Sakina, granddaughter of Nizam VII Mir Osman Ali Khan questioning the leasing of the Koti Asafia Palace at Alwal to the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan for 99 years.
Justice A.V. Sesha Sai while admitting the petition directed the respondents to file their counter affidavits within three weeks.
Mr Prabhakar Sripada, counsel for the petitioner, told the court that the palace was built on 28.48 acres at Alwal. After the demise of the Nizam, none of his legal heirs had taken possession of the palace due to a dispute over properties.
The erstwhile AP government in April 1985 had leased out the palace to the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan on the rent of Rs 1 per annum.
He said as per the law the lease deed has to be registered within 11 months from the date of agreement. This was not done, and the lease has no legal sanctity.
