Illegal occupation of Mysore royal family's property

Mysore, Dec 19 (UNI) The Mysore royal family today urged the Karnataka Government to take necessary action against the illegal occupation of a palace land near Srirangapatna in neighbouring Mandya district.

Speaking to visiting newspersons here, palace Secretary and Spokesperson Lakshminarayana alleged that the property Brindavan (cremation ground) of Khasa Chamarajawadiyar, father of Mummadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar who ruled Mysore before Tipu Sultan, was illegally occuppied by Sri Durdandeswara Mahantaswamy of Baby Betta.

The 1.28 acres of land along with a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, situated on the banks of river Cauvery, was the ancestral property of the Mysore kings.

He said that during December 2003, the scion of the royal family Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar had lodged a complaint with the then Revenue Minister H C Srikantiah about the illegal occupation.

The Government, in its order dated January two, 2004, asked the officials concerned to return the land to the Mysore royal family.

However, in a fresh order dated May 24 last, the Government had ordered that only 14 guntas had been earmarked for the royal family for cremation purposes and the rest had been leased out to Sri Durdandeswara Mahantaswamy. This order was in contravention of the January 26, 1950, agreement and the matter was sub-judice, he added.

Mr Lakshminarayana alleged that in the meantime, the mutt people had changed the original name of Sri Chamarajendraswamy temple into Chandramuleswara and the entire structure had been renovated and even the Brindavan had been changed, ''disgracing and defaming'' the Mysore royal family.

Stating that their main intention was to protect the property and preserve it as a historical monument, he alleged that even though the palace office had made arrangements to look after the property, some persons belonging to the mutt had thretaned them and illegally occupied the land.

Tense moments ensued at the spot when palace officials and mutt persons indulged in verbal exchanges.

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