New Delhi, Feb 28: The Delhi High Court has dismissed a plea filed by the heirs of late Bikaner ruler Dr. Karni Singh, who sought arrears of rent from the Centre for Bikaner House.
Justice Sachin Datta, while delivering the verdict, emphasized that the Rajasthan government held absolute ownership rights over Bikaner House. The court ruled that the petitioner—Estate of late Maharaja Dr. Karni Singh—failed to establish any legal claim over the property or entitlement to rent arrears from the Central government.
Background of the Case
The petitioner, represented by Dr. Karni Singh’s daughter, sought rent arrears from 1991 to 2014. The argument was based on a 1951 communication from the Government of India, which had assured that one-third of the rent from Bikaner House would be paid to the Maharaja’s estate. The property, originally developed between 1922 and 1949 by Singh’s predecessor, was later taken over by the government.However, the Centre ceased payments after Dr. Karni Singh’s demise in 1991, leading the heirs to approach the court for the restoration of payments.
Court’s Ruling
The court, in its judgment dated February 24, ruled that the Centre's past payments were made on an ex-gratia basis, meaning they were not a legal obligation. It further highlighted that after the Supreme Court’s 2014 decision, which ruled in favor of the state of Rajasthan's ownership claim, the Centre vacated Bikaner House.The High Court categorically stated that the heirs of Dr. Karni Singh cannot claim these payments as a matter of legal right.
This ruling reinforces the Rajasthan government’s ownership over Bikaner House and closes the long-standing dispute over rent arrears.
