Karnataka asks Supreme Court to urgently consider 1997 appeal on validity of Bangalore Palace Acquisition Act

New Delhi: The Karnataka government on Monday approached the Supreme Court to urgently take up 1997 civil appeal challenging constitutional validity of the Bangalore Palace (Acquisition and Transfer) Act, 1996.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal along with Karnataka's Additional Advocate General Nishanth Patil mentioned the matter before a bench of Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar for urgent hearing.

The counsel said the matter has been pending before the court for 28 years.

The court, however, asked the counsel to approach the registrar for the needful.

On April 30, 1997, the apex court admitted civil appeal filed by legal representatives of Srikanta D N Wadiyar and directed for maintaining status quo in the matter.

In 2003, the court noticed similar issue was pending before nine-judge bench in Property Owners Association Vs State of Maharashtra related to acquisition of private properties, so it decided to consider the matter after the decision by the larger bench.

Notably, the nine judge bench has delivered its judgment on November 5, 2024, which by a majority view held that not all privately owned resources can be acquired by the State, but it can stake claim over resources that are material and are held by the community for public good.

In December, 2024, the apex court directed the Karnataka government and BBMP to issue transferable development rights as per the Karnataka Stamp Act to the legal heir of Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar for the land of Bangalore Palace ground sought to be acquired for widening of Bellary and Jayamahal Roads.