Pramoda Devi Wadiyar’s claim over properties in Chamarajanagar sparks concern among villagers

Ms. Wadiyar claims private properties, sparking dispute with villagers and district officials over land ownership and khatas.

A delegation of residents from Siddayyanapura village in Chamarajanagar district met Deputy Commissioner Shilpa Nag recently, expressing concern over their future in the wake of Pramoda Devi Wadiyar of the erstwhile royal family of Mysore staking claim over more than 4,500 acres of land in parts of the district.

Ms. Wadiyar had sent a letter to the Deputy Commissioner of the district and senior officials, including Assistant Commissioner of Kollegal, Tahsildar of Chamarajanagar, Deputy Director and Assistant Director of Land Records in Chamarajanagar, pointing to the private properties belonging to the erstwhile royals as per the February 1951 agreement between the then Maharaja of Mysore and the government of India.

In the letter dated March 20, 2025, Ms. Wadiyar had listed out the survey numbers of land in various villages of the district belonging to the erstwhile royal family while urging the authorities to issue a khata to the properties in their name.

While objecting to the issue of khatas in anyone else’s names, Ms. Wadiyar said she was submitting the petition in the wake of the reports that the private properties belonging to the erstwhile royal family were being converted into revenue villages. She has also urged the district administration to stop all transactions related to the properties.

Meanwhile, Ms. Nag, who has confirmed receipt of the letter from Ms. Wadiyar, said she had already asked the Assistant Commissioner and Tahsildar concerned to verify the claims. She also pointed out that Ms. Wadiyar had not submitted any documents, legal notice, or court orders to support her claims.

She said there were several areas in the district where the issue of khatas to properties had been unresolved between the Revenue and Forest Department. After resolving the same, the district administration was proceeding to create revenue villages as per the directions of the government and the request of the villagers, she said.

After meeting the residents of Siddayyanapura, Ms. Nag said a decision will be taken only after the process of verification is completed.