Disputed property is Govt land; lease to mutt legal: seer

Mysore, Dec 20 (UNI) The 1.28 acres of land near Srirangapatna, claimed by the Mysore royal family as its cremation ground, belonged to the Government and was legally handed over to the Baby mutt, Sri Trinetra Mahanta Shivayogi Swamiji of the mutt claimed today.

Speaking to newspersons here, he said the land, handed over by the State Government to the mutt on lease for 30 years, did not have any samadhi. Any samadhi should face the North and the land conerened faced East. Only religious activities were going on at the spot and there was no question of any encroachment by the mutt as the survey records did not mention the said place as that of the scion of Mysore royal family Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar.

The seer said the land was legally obtained from the Government and bowing to pressure from and influence of the royal family, 14 guntas of land were transferred in favour of Mr Wadiyar as per a recent Government Order. However, the mutt had dashed off a letter to the Revenue Minister recently, who had in turn instructed the Mandya Deputy Commissioner on October 28 last to inspect the spot and submit a report. Though the report was yet to be submitted, a representative of the royal family brought media persons to the spot yesterday and created a controversy.

He said there was no ill will against the royal family and the mutt had due respect for the royal family and its members.

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