Daijiworld Media Network - Mysuru (SP)

Mysuru, Dec 17: The Supreme Court (SC), in an important verdict delivered after a legal battle that went on for three decades, granted the plea of the heirs of the late K B Ramachandra Raje Urs and ordered payment of compensation and return of a portion of land acquired by Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA). The late Ramachandra had charged MUDA with illegally acquiring 94 acres of land belonging him by serving preliminary notices during the period between 1985 and 1988. This sprawling land lies between Premier Studio and SJCE campus here.

The SC, in its judgment, ordered for returning of 16 acres of land that is lying vacant, and pay compensation to the heirs of the petitioner at market rate for 78 acres of land. 16 acres of prime land on Hunsur Road will now go back to the royal family as per this order. At the same time, out of 55 acres allotted to JSS, 15 acres unused land has been ordered to be returned back to MUDA.

Heir of the family, Chaduranga Kantaraje Urs, noted that the single judge bench of the state high court had delivered judgement in his family's favour in 2001, but MUDA and JSS had moved petition before division bench. Thereafter, the case went to Supreme Court in 2004, which ended with the delivery of judgment on Wednesday. Urs said that MUDA had not served any final notice to the heirs of the family, nor had it paid any compensation for the land acquired.

He said that out of 94 acres acquired by MUDA, 55 acres were allotted to JSS and government officials had built land in 22 acres of land. 16 acres of land standing next to Premier Studio is lying vacant, and this land has been ordered to be vested back to the royal family. He said that this land remained vacant as his father filed a case and procured stay order against further constructions in 1994.