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State Cabinet Decides to Issue Ordinance to Use and Control Bangalore Palace Property

Bengaluru:The State cabinet on Friday decided not to pay Rs 3014 crore to the erstwhile Mysore royal family as per Transferable Development Rights (TDR) to use 15 acres and 36 guntas of land belonging to Bangalore Palace Grounds spread across 472 acres in Bengaluru city.

Instead, the cabinet meeting decided to issue an ordinance keeping in mind the Mysore Palace Acquisition and Transfer Act, 1996 which will empower the State Government to decide on use and control over the Palace Grounds property.

The Supreme Court in its order dated December 10, 2024 had asked the State Government to pay Rs 3014 crore to the descendants of the erstwhile Mysore royal family to use 15 acres and 36 guntas as per TDR (compensation).

The State Government has plans to widen Ballari road and Jayamahal road attached to the Bangalore Palace Grounds to ease vehicular congestion on road connecting to Ballari and other places via Bengaluru city.

If the State Government decides to pay such a quantum of money to a particular family, Minister of Law and Parliamentary Affairs H.K. Patil stated development works in Karnataka will be hit.

“The decision to issue ordinance is in the interest of Karnataka, " stated Patil while briefing media persons after the media meeting in Bengaluru.

Patil explained the matter of compensation to the erstwhile royal family was fixed at Rs 11 crore at the time of introduction of Mysore Palace Acquisition and Transfer Act, 1996. Besides, the Act was upheld by the High Court of Karnataka in 1997 and there is no stay from the Supreme Court for the Act introduced by the State Government.

“We will abide by the Mysore Palace Acquisition and Transfer Act,” Patil said and stated “We cannot pay to the extent of Rs 3,000 plus crore.”

The Minister said, the then President gave his consent for Mysore Palace Acquisition and Transfer Act, 1996 and it was published in 1996 in Karnataka gazette. The validity of the Act was questioned by the descendants of erstwhile Mysore royal family in the High Court and the High Court upheld the Act. Later, the descendants moved the Supreme Court and the litigation is going on.

Patil said successive State Governments have filed Interlocutory Application (IA) in the Supreme Court and 27 years elapsed after Rs 11 crore compensation was fixed by the State Government as per Mysore Palace Acquisition and Transfer Act, 1996.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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