Jaipur: An additional district court here on Thursday dismissed the state govt’s claim over two prime properties—Bungalow No 15 and 16 in Civil Lines—on the ground of delay, granting relief to members of former Jaipur royal family.The order was passed by additional district judge Mukesh Parnami while hearing a suit filed by the directorate of estates within the general administration department (GAD). The court held that the state govt failed to initiate proceedings within the limitation period prescribed under Article 112 of the Limitation Act, which allows 30 years for the govt to recover possession. “Although the state claimed ownership from Dec 28, 1971, following the abolition of recognition to former rulers under Article 363 of the Constitution, it issued a notice to Brigadier Bhawani Singh to vacate the property only in May 2003, well beyond the permissible period,” the court said. The suit named Singh’s wife Padmini Devi, daughter Diya Kumari (current deputy CM) and grandson Padmanabh Singh as defendants and sought ₹10 crore as consolidated rent from 1971 until the filing of the suit, along with ₹10 lakh per month thereafter.Opposing the claim, counsel for the defendants Ramesh Sharma argued that the cause of action arose in 1971 and the state could act only until 2002. Accepting the argument, the court dismissed the suit as time-barred.
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