Row over Sri Chamundeshwari Kshetra Development Authority continues

Erstwhile royal family objects to Chief Minister chairing meeting of Sri Chamundeshwari Kshetra Development Authority atop Chamundi Hills.

The row over Sri Chamundeshwari Kshetra Development Authority continued on Tuesday, September 3, with the erstwhile royal family of Mysore objecting to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah chairing the first meeting of the Authority atop Chamundi Hills.

While the erstwhile royal family of Mysore wrote to the Secretary of Sri Chamundeshwari Temple Development Authority that the meeting scheduled for Tuesday was a “violation” of the interim stay granted by the High Court in response to a petition filed by Ms. Pramoda Devi Wadiyar, Mr. Siddaramaiah claimed that the stay order had been vacated.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Siddaramaiah said the government decided to hold the meeting of the Authority only after the stay order given by the High Court was vacated.

However, representatives of the erstwhile royal family of Mysore contended that the High Court had passed an interim order on July 26, 2024, directing that the Sri Chamundeshwari Kshetra Development Authority Act shall not be given effect. “The writ petition is listed on 05/09/2024 for further consideration of the interim order dated 26/07/2024. In light of the above, the proposed meeting on 03/09/2024 is in violation of the said interim order. Hence, we request you not to alter the status quo ante,” said a representative of Pramoda Devi Wadiyar in a communication to the Authority’s Secretary.

Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar Mysuru MP, too said the meeting of the Authority had been convened in violation of the High Court’s interim stay. As the case is listed for hearing on September 5, 2024, the MP, too, appealed to the Authority to honour the High Court’s direction and maintain the status quo.

Though a member of the erstwhile royal family of Mysore is also a member of the Authority and an invitation had been sent, Mr. Yaduveer said he had stayed out of the meeting hold, which amounts to “contempt of court”. As per the High Court order, Mr. Yaduveer said the interim stay earlier granted has been extended till the next date of hearing, which is September 5, 2024.

Meanwhile, Mr. Siddaramaiah said Pramoda Devi had moved the court for a stay against the Authority formed by the government. The stay order had been vacated on August 22, he said, while adding that the first meeting of the Authority had been convened only after the stay order was vacated.