Mysuru: As only 15 days remain for the grand Mysuru Dasara, a PIL has been filed by Historian P.V. Nanjaraja Urs, claiming that the golden chariot and golden throne belongs to government and not the Royal family.
The controversy between government and the Mysuru royal family is not a recent one. Already there are several cases in the court which are still pending.
The PIL states that as the rule of the king has ended, the throne and the chariot belong to government. In 1998, the government brought the Palace Acquisition Act into order which said that the palace and the things owned by the palace belong to the government.
As per the agreement, the keys of the room where the throne and the chariot are kept must be with both, the government and the queen. But currently, both the keys are with the queen. Apart from this, every year, lakhs of rupees are collected as royalty which is then handed over to the royal family. “It is the tax amount paid by the public and hence they should stop giving it to the royal family, said Urs in his PIL.
He has also asked that action be taken against Queen Pramoda Devi who possesses the throne and the chariot.
Queen has restricted Nanjaraj Urs for making controversial statements against the palace in public.
The Palace Acquisition Act was brought into order by the then finance minister and deputy CM Siddaramaiah during JD(S) rule. Late Shrikantadatta Narasimharaja Odeyar had challenged the act which is still in court.
