Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot.
Credit: DH Photo/ S K Dinesh
Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Wednesday gave his assent to the Bangalore Palace (Utilisation and Regulation of Land) Ordinance, 2025, which was passed in the last Cabinet meeting allowing the government to forgo the Rs 3,011 crore transferable development rights (TDR) payment mandated by the Supreme Court to to the legal heirs of Mysuru Maharaja.
The notification comes just a week before the apex court is scheduled to hear the matter again. The ordinance provides legal immunity to the government against a contempt petition filed by the erstwhile royal family for delaying compensation. On December 10, the apex court set a 45-day deadline to grant the TDR, which lapsed on January 22.
The ordinance states that the total value of the entire 472 acres and 16 guntas of Bangalore Palace land has been determined in accordance with Sections 8 and 9 of the Bangalore Palace Act 1996, amounting to Rs 11 crore. The constitutional validity of the Act has been upheld by the High Court of Karnataka, and there is no stay on the operation of the 1996 Act by the Supreme Court in the appeal, it explains. It also points out that a separate bench of the Supreme Court, in a contempt case, directed the government to grant TDR in accordance with the prevailing guidance value of adjoining areas. “The financial effect of the judgment will be grave on the exchequer of the state of Karnataka and the urban planning of the city of Bengaluru. Further, it is inconsistent with the total compensation determined as per the Bangalore Palace Act 1996.”
As the civil cases relating to the constitutional validity of the Bangalore Palace (Acquisition and Transfer) Act 1996 are pending before the Supreme Court and the grant of TDR will be an irreversible process, it will have severe ramifications for the state, the state Cabinet noted.
The Cabinet also pointed out that the ordinance was passed as the legislative assembly and legislative council were not in session. The ordinance has empowered the state to make use of any portion of the Bangalore Palace land under Section 4 of the 1996 Act. It has also decided to restore portions of palace land that are not sought for utilization in any infrastructure works.
The matter is likely to come up for a hearing on February 4.