From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Dec 3: The controversy over the proliferation of a several illegal structures in the sprawling Bangalore Palace Grounds in the heart of the city was pending before the Supreme Court and the State Government was helpless to do anything, chief minister Siddaramaiah informed the State Assembly on Tuesday.
Replying a question from S R Vishwanath (BJP) in the Belgaum session, the chief minister said the Government has notified the Bangalore Palace (Acquisition and Transfer) Act, 1996 on November 21, 1996 and the property has been vested in the State government.
He pointed out that the legal heirs have challenged the Act before the Supreme Court and “the matter is still pending.”
As per the interim orders of the Supreme Court in 1998 and 2001, the State Government has accorded permission for conducting programmes in the Palace Grounds.
The State Government has constituted a Single window agency consisting of eight officers under the chairmanship of Principal Secretary, Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms in 2007.
The committee meets fortnightly and reviews the applications of the legal heirs to conduct functions and accord permissions, the Chief Minister said.
A task Force headed by Deputy Commissioner, Bangalore Urban district, has also been constituted in 1997 and the Task Force visits to the Palace Grounds time to time and examine the status of the grounds.
New guidelines were issued in 2012 taking the interim orders of the Apex Court into consideration.
The Supreme Court in 1997 has ordered status-quo in the Bangalore Palace Grounds.
The Tahsildar of the Bangalore North Taluk had ordered for demolition of unauthorized structures, which have come up after 1997 inside the Palace Grounds. The legal heirs have moved to the court against the order, the chief minister explained.
“The Deputy Commissioner of Bangalore Urban District has conducted spot inspection at the Palace Grounds and submitted a report to the Supreme Court regarding the unauthorized structures at the Palace Grounds. The case is pending in the Supreme Court,” the Chief Minister said.
Former Deputy Chief Minister R Ashok urged the State Government to give a week for organizers to hold a book exhibition as a laudable initiative like book exhibition required sufficient time to enable large number of people to visit and buy books.
Siddaramaiah said the permission was granted for three days as per the rules, which have been in existence since a long time.
''We have not changed the rules and the officials have simply followed them,” he added.