Karnataka has no right over Bengaluru's 'Beaulieu' estate: SC

The Supreme Court has said that Karnataka has "no right" over the historic Beaulieu Estate in the heart of the Bengaluru city as it was purchased nearly 117 years ago by the Dewan of Mysore on behalf of the First Princess.

The estate, measuring over 24 acres, is a heritage property located in Bengaluru's prime Palace Road and now houses a hotel and a number of commercial buildings and residences.

The apex court restored the order passed by the Karnataka High Court's single judge quashing the state government's order initiating proceedings under Section 67 of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964 against the occupants of the land. Section 67 of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964 states that all lands which are not the property of others belong to the government.

A bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta held that after over 100 years of the execution of the original conveyance deed, and after the state acquiring many portions of land out of this estate, "we cannot permit the state to urge that the original conveyance deed is fraudulent or that the subsequent transfers are all collusive and, as such, void".

"It is held that the 'Beaulieu' estate was purchased by the Dewan of Mysore on behalf of the First Princess and the consideration was paid from the personal funds of the First Princess. Therefore, the state of Karnataka has no right over the property," the bench said.