In the ongoing tug-of-war between the Rajasthan government and Jaipur’s erstwhile royal family over the acquisition of certain properties of the latter, the former royals won major relief from the Supreme Court on Monday as it directed the state to restore the possession of Kanak Bhavan to the family.
The building falling within the premises of Laxmi Palace Hotel, situated close to the Rambagh Palace, was acquired by Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) recently while the matter relating to it was pending before the Rajasthan high court.
The JDA had become active in taking control of certain properties of the former royal family after the demise of Maharani Gayatri Devi.
While the JDA counsel claimed that Kanak Bhavan had been vested in the state of Rajasthan, the lawyer for the royal family produced an affidavit of 2000 filed before the HC by the authority stating that it was not the part of the royal property that had vested in the state.
Taking note of the JDA’s affidavit, a vacation bench of Justices Deepak Verma and K.S. Radhakrishnan directed that the possession of the building in question be immediately restored to the erstwhile royal family.
However, the SC, directed the HC to decide the matter relating to vesting of the property in the state purely on merits.