On Thursday, the Karnataka Legislative Assembly passed the Bangalore Palace Bill, amidst intense debates and accusations of “vendetta politics” from the opposition BJP-JD(S) combine. The opposition staged a walkout, claiming the Congress was pursuing the matter for political reasons. This move follows the Supreme Court’s directive for the Karnataka government to deposit a Transferable Development Rights (TDR) worth Rs 3,400 crore to the heirs of the erstwhile Mysuru royal family.
The Bangalore Palace (Utilisation and Regulation of Land) Bill, 2025, replaces the earlier Bangalore Palace Ordinance 2025 with two key amendments. Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil, who piloted the bill, stated, “The financial implications of the Supreme Court’s verdict are serious, impacting both the state’s finances and urban planning in Bengaluru. It also conflicts with the compensation provisions outlined in the Bangalore (Acquisition and Transfer) Act of 1996.”
The bill sets the “guidance value” of the 472-acre Bangalore Palace land based on the 1996 Act, valuing the land at Rs 11 crore. Sources reveal that the government is preparing to deposit the TDR, with the stipulation that the members of the royal family will not be able to access the funds until the ownership issue is resolved in the Supreme Court.
During the debate, BJP state president B Y Vijayendra acknowledged that the previous BJP-led government had also opposed issuing the TDR but accused Congress of pushing the issue for political reasons, specifically targeting BJP MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, who was elected as the Mysore-Kodagu MP in 2024. Vijayendra argued, “This matter was raised abruptly because a member of the royal family, now part of the BJP, is in Parliament.”
The bill is seen as a legal step to address the contempt case and safeguard the government’s right to determine whether or not roads will be constructed near the Bangalore Palace.