SC demands complete account of Khetri estate properties from Raj

Time of India

28-05-2025

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Jaipur: In a key turn in the long-running legal battle over the estate of late Maharaja Sardar Singh of Khetri, the
Supreme Court
on Tuesday directed the Rajasthan govt to provide a complete account of all properties taken over under the Rajasthan Escheats Regulation Act, 1956.
The court ordered the state govt to include khasra numbers as well as current status of the properties and submit the report to it within six weeks. The next hearing has been scheduled for July 27.
The direction came while hearing an application for directions filed by the Khetri Trust. The application that was moved in an SLP alleged that the state govt failed to safeguard the historic properties from encroachment and damage.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the Trust, argued that the govt did not comply with earlier Supreme Court orders issued on Sep 22, 2022, and Jan 18, 2023, and that basic protective measures were missing.
To strengthen its case, the Trust submitted a series of photographs showing forts and heritage buildings with broken gates, unrestricted public access and clear signs of neglect. The Trust claimed these conditions were in violation of repeated court instructions and govt assurances made over the years.
On behalf of the state, additional advocate general Shiv Mangal Sharma denied the charges and said there was no encroachment on the properties. He told the court that over Rs 5 crore was already spent on renovation work and further repairs would be carried out after detailed inspections. He assured the bench that steps were being taken to prevent future trespassing and deterioration.
The Trust further alleged that officers from the archaeology department and the local administration failed in their duties, citing the example of Bhopalgarh Fort, which remained open and unguarded until the Trust itself took steps to lock it.
The application included photographs and official communication to back these claims.
The legal dispute stems from the Rajasthan govt's use of the Rajasthan Escheats Regulation Act, 1956, to take possession of 62 properties once owned by Raja Sardar Singh, arguing he died intestate. The Khetri Trust, however, claims ownership based on a will dated Oct 30, 1985. While a single judge initially denied probate, a division bench later upheld the will and granted the estate to the Trust. That decision is now under challenge by the state in the current case.
Over the years, the Supreme Court issued several interim orders to ensure the estate's protection, including forming a five-member committee headed by former chief justice Pradeep Nandrajog.