Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah: Ordinance on Mysuru Royal Family Property Not Motivated by Hostility

Bengaluru, Jan 25 (NationPress) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah made it clear on Saturday that the government’s move to issue an ordinance to take control of the valuable Bengaluru Palace Grounds, which belongs to the Mysuru royal family, is not motivated by animosity.

While addressing the media in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah emphasized: “We are not acting out of hostility. There exists a law, and there was an obstruction to development. This decision is made for the benefit of the public.”

He further elaborated that the property spans 15 acres and is appraised at Rs 3,014 crore, which translates to over Rs 200 crore per acre.

“Where else in Bengaluru can you find such a price? What would be the effects on the community? We are pursuing road expansion without placing a burden on the government. The key issue is still under judicial review. The High Court has ruled in our favor, and now they have approached the Supreme Court,” he stated.

The Chief Minister remarked that in 1996, the government set a price of Rs 11 crore for the acquisition of 472 acres of the Bengaluru Palace Grounds, valuing the land at Rs 2.30 lakh per acre.

“However, the royal family contested this ruling in court. At present, the market value per acre has soared to Rs 200 crore,” he mentioned.

Siddaramaiah noted that if 15.36 acres of land from the Bengaluru Palace Grounds is secured, the government will have to pay Rs 200 crore per acre.

“Given this context, the government has decided to consider acquiring the land through an ordinance,” he added.

Sources indicated that Siddaramaiah has accelerated the government’s legal efforts in the Supreme Court to claim the Bengaluru Palace and adjacent lands following the candidacy of the royal family's heir, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, for the Mysuru-Kodagu Lok Sabha seat as a BJP candidate.

Mysuru is Siddaramaiah's hometown. He faced a setback as Yaduveer achieved a significant victory over the Congress candidate, M. Laxman, who is a close ally of Siddaramaiah.

In 2015, Siddaramaiah had declared that his government would hasten the legal proceedings to acquire the Palace Grounds.

The Karnataka government announced on Friday its intention to issue an ordinance to regulate and utilize 15.36 acres of the Bengaluru Palace Grounds. H.K. Patil, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, made this announcement following a special cabinet meeting at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru. The government intends to use the land for road expansion.

In response to this development, Mysuru’s Maharani Pramoda Devi Wadiyar asserted that any injustice concerning the Bengaluru Palace will lead them to pursue legal action.

She stated: "If there is any unfair treatment regarding the Bengaluru Palace land dispute, we will certainly engage in a legal battle. There is no doubt about it. Previously, my husband fought for this cause, and now we will carry on that struggle."

Pramoda Devi Wadiyar raised objections to the government’s circular concerning the Bengaluru Palace Road TDR (Transfer of Development Rights) issue.

She remarked: "I have reviewed the Cabinet decision. We also hold the 1996 acquisition and stay order. The Supreme Court has made observations regarding the Bengaluru Palace land. Everything that has transpired has been in line with the directives of the Karnataka government. Nothing has occurred without their awareness."

She further mentioned that the government claims there is no stay, but there is indeed a stay, and ownership remains with them.

“We are still the legitimate owners of the Bengaluru Palace land. If we had been granted the TDR earlier, the prices would not have escalated to such levels. We will pursue this battle through legal avenues,” emphasized Pramoda Devi.