JAIPUR: Curtains finally fell on the protracted legal battle among Jaipur royal family members over the ownership of prized properties, Jai Mahal Palace hotel and Rambagh Palace hotel, after court-appointed mediator Justice (retd) Kurian Joseph brokered an amicable settlement.
According to the settlement, Devraj Singh and his sister Lalitya Kumari, the grandchildren of Maharani Gayatri Devi, will get back the luxurious heritage property, Jai Mahal Palace hotel, from their step uncles while they forego their stake in Rambagh Palace in favour of their uncles.
Devraj Singh and Lalitya Kumari, children of late Jagat Singh, Sawai Man Singh’s lone child from his marriage with Gayatri Devi, will get back their inherited properties after the amicable settlement.
Vijit Singh and his brother Jai Singh, sons of late Prithviraj Singh, Sawai Man Singh’s son from his marriage with Maharani Kishore Kunwar, agreed to hand over the Jai Mahal Palace hotel to Devraj and Lalitya according to the settlement arrived on December 15. The two will become the sole owners of this majestic property which is being run as a hotel by the Tata Group under a management contract.
They will in turn forego their shares in the Rambagh Palace entirely in favour of Jai Singh and Vijit Singh.
The Jaipur royal family members, who had stakes in personal properties that included luxury hotels and other immovable properties, decided to go for an out-of-court settlement following Supreme Court’s direction. This followed years of legal battle contested in various courts, including the National Company Law Tribunal.
The Supreme Court had appointed retired SC judge Justice Kurian Joseph as a mediator to work out a solution.
Following the settlement, Justice Joseph presented the documents before the Supreme Court. After studying the same, the court accepted the same and passed the order that would be binding on all the stakeholders.
