ESTATE OF MAHARAJA DR KARNI SINGHJI OF BIKANER THROUGH EXECUTRIX vs UNION OF INDIA AND ANR

Judgment text excerpt

$~J * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Judgment pronounced on: 24.02.2025 + W.P.(C) 11748/2022 ESTATE OF MAHARAJA DR KARNI SINGHJI OF BIKANER THROUGH EXECUTRIX .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Sriharsha Peechara, Mr. Akshat Kulshreshtha and Mr. D.S. Bhanu, Advs. versus UNION OF INDIA AND ANR .....Respondents Through: Mr. Rakesh Kumar, CGSC and Mr. Sunil, Adv. for UOI. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN DATTA JUDGMENT 1. The present petition has been filed by the Estate of Late Maharaja Dr. Karni Singh, represented by Ms. Rajyashree Kumari Bikaner (Executrix and daughter of the Late Maharaja), seeking relief against the Union of India (respondent no. 1). The petition inter alia prays as under – “(a) Pass an appropriate writ of mandamus or any other order or direction directing the Respondent No. 1 to not withhold the outstanding arrears of rent, being one-half of the amount paid to the Respondent No.2, from October 1991 to December 2014; (b) Pass an appropriate writ, order or direction directing the Respondent No. 1 to not insist upon issuance of a No Dues Certificate from the Respondent No.2 for the release of outstanding ' rent to the Petitioner for the Bikaner House property” W.P.(C) 11748/2022 Page 1 of 10 Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:ABHISHEK THAKUR Signing Date:27.02.2025 06:57:29 2. The factual conspectus is that Bikaner House, located in New Delhi, was undertaken to be developed by Maharaja Ganga Singh (predecessor to Dr. Karmi Singh) between 1922 and 1949. 3. Subsequently, after the integration of princely states into the Indian Dominion, Bikaner House was included in the official document titled “Inventory of the Private Properties of the Ruler of Bikaner.” The concerned property was listed under the category “Outside the Bikaner State” with t