Mysuru royal family is laying claim to the properties on the Chamundi hills while the government said it was acting on court orders.
Published Sep 03, 2024 | 1:56 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 05, 2024 | 10:49 AM
Chief Minister Siddaramiah speaking with the media. (Screengrab)
Ahead of the first meeting of Shree Chamundeshwari Kshetra Development Authority under the leadership of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Mysuru on Tuesday, 3 September, BJP’s Mysuru-Kodagu MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar termed it a violation of Karnataka High Court’s interim order and appealed all parties to maintain status quo.
In an official release, the MP claimed that the Shree Chamundeshwari Kshetra Development Authority Act, 2024 is currently under legal challenge in Karnataka High Court.
“The court issued an interim order on 26 July, 2024, directing that the Act shall NOT be implemented until further notice. Despite this, there is a proposed meeting scheduled for 3 September 2024 (Tuesday). We urge all concerned parties to respect the legal process and maintain the status quo until the matter is further considered on 5 September, 2024,” the MP said in the release.
Shree Chamundeshwari Kshetra Development Authority Act, 2024 under legal challenge in K’taka HC. Interim order has been ignored and the meeting scheduled today. I urge all to respect legal process & maintain status quo until Sept 5th.#UpholdLaw pic.twitter.com/NQP1yX5rds
— Yaduveer Wadiyar (@yaduveerwadiyar) September 3, 2024
Responding to the comments, the chief minister noted that the stay had been vacated, and claimed, “We are acting as per the court orders.”
Siddaramaiah, speaking to the reporters in Mysuru, said, “We have set up the Shree Chamundeshwari Kshetra Development Authority. After it was constituted, Pramoda Devi Wadiyar got a stay for it. The stay is now vacated. Hence, I have called for the first meeting. The meeting is being chaired at Chamundi Hills.”
On Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar’s objection to the meeting, Siddaramaiah said: “A committee was there earlier as well. Who used to appoint members to the committee? Who used to be the chairperson of the committee? It was the Deputy Commissioner. Then, wasn’t it under the state government?”
“They had brought the stay, but now it has been vacated. The restraining order was lifted on 22 August. We are acting as per the orders of the court. Do we need to act as per the court order or the MP’s order? I’m acting as per the court order,” the chief minister said adding that he would hold the meeting.
#Karnataka: We are acting as per the court orders. Stay has been vacated,” replied CM @siddaramaiah.
CM #Siddaramaiah told reporters in #Mysuru: “We have set up the Shree Chamundeshwari Kshetra Development Authority. After it was constituted, Pramoda Devi Wadiyar had got stay… pic.twitter.com/iqjOe9oXBO
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) September 3, 2024
The Chanmundi hills, which house the famous Chamundeshwari temple, have been associated with the royal family of Mysuru, the Wadiyars.
However, in July, the Karnataka government issued a notification to constitute the authority following public demand. Following this Pramoda Devi Wadiyar, the royal family matriarch, approached the high court on 27 July, claiming that the properties on the hills belonged to the royal family. The court then issued a stay order against the constitution of the development authority.
Addressing the media in August, Pramoda Devi claimed that the Chamundeshwari Devi is the presiding deity of the erstwhile royal family and Shree Chamundeshwari Temple and other temples atop the Chamundi Hills are the private properties of the family.
She further said, “The Karnataka government in 1974 approved the list of private assets owned by royal families that the Indian government had submitted to the corresponding state governments in 1972. The list includes the Rajendra Vilas Palace, gardens, Mahabaleshwar Temple, Uttanahalli Temple, Shree Chamundeshwari Temple, and its associated buildings.”
On Monday, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) spokesperson M Lakshmana claimed that the high court’s stay on the Sri Chamundeshwari Kshetra Development Authority Act had been vacated.
Backing his claim, the KPCC spokesperson read a letter from the Additional Advocate General N Devadas addressed to the principal secretary, Department of Revenue (Muzrai), Government of Karnataka
According to a report by The Hindu, the letter read: “The Hon’ble Court was pleased to order that the Act has been given effect before the interim order is passed by the Court and as such the interim order passed earlier is not continued. In these words, there is no stay of the Act now.”
(Edited by Sumavarsha Kandula, with inputs from Mahesh G Goudar.)
