Faridkot royal property dispute: Plea against rights to two daughters quashed

Bharatinder had staked claim to the property citing the ‘Rule of Primogeniture’, according to which property rights are granted to firstborn son or eldest living male blood relative

The district court here on Monday upheld a trial court’s order in a property dispute between two daughters of the erstwhile Faridkot maharaja, and dismissed appeals. As per the August 2013 order of the lower court, two daughters of the former maharaja of Faridkot, Harinder Singh Brar, were granted inheritance to assets worth Rs 20,000 crore.

After a two-decade battle, the former ruler’s two daughters were granted inheritance to assets including the Faridkot House at Copernicus Marg near India Gate in Delhi, a palace and Manimajra Fort, properties in Mashobra (Shimla), besides bank deposits, jewellery and vintage cars.(Representative image)

But this order was challenged the late maharaja’s nephew Bharatinder Singh, son of his younger brother late Manjitinder Singh, by arguing that the former ruler’s will was illegal and void, thereby declaring his daughters Amrit Kaur and Deepinder Kaur as the legal heirs.

Bharatinder had staked claim to the property citing the ‘Rule of Primogeniture’, according to which property rights are granted to firstborn son or eldest living male blood relative. It was argued that the maharaja had executed another registered will dated May 22, 1952, regarding certain specific properties and  this will was undisputed till date and should “automatically” apply after the 1982 will was declared as illegal by court. After a two-decade battle, the former ruler’s two daughters were granted inheritance to assets including the Faridkot House at Copernicus Marg near India Gate in Delhi, a palace and Manimajra Fort, properties in Mashobra (Shimla), besides bank deposits, jewellery and vintage cars.

The appeals were moved in the court of additional district and sessions judge Dr Ajit Attri by Amrit Kaur and Manjitinder Singh, and by Maharawal Khewaji Trust, against the order of trial court of chief judicial magistrate in August 2013.

In 1992, the maharaja’s elder daughter, Amrit Kaur, challenged the will that handed over the properties to the trust, which has Harinder’s former domestic helps as members. The court then ruled that the will was forged and fabricated; and granted inheritance to the two daughters, Amrit and Deepinder.