47-yr-old Darbhanga Trust dispute settled
DARBHANGA, Sept. 21 -- A Darbhanga civil court delivered its verdict in a 47-year-old ownership dispute related to Maharaja Kameshwar Singh Religious Trust, one of the most prominent trusts associated with the erstwhile Darbhanga Raj family and upkeep of temples.
The case, registered in 1978 was filed by Rajeshwar Singh and Kapileshwar Singh, sons of late prince Subheshwar Singh against Maharani Kam Sundari Devi and others.
On Saturday, the court of civil judge (Senior Division), Ritesh Kumar, pronounced the long-awaited judgment.
The court ruled that after the death of Maharani Kam Sundari Devi, Rajeshwar Singh and Kapileshwar Singh will serve as trustees of the Kameshwar Singh Religious Trust. The order also grants them the right to inspect trust records and accounts as future trustees.
The court directed Maharani Kam Sundari Devi to continue discharging her duties as per the trust deed. It also clarified that if the plaintiffs felt mismanagement was taking place in the future, they were free to approach the court for relief. The Maharani has been specifically instructed to ensure payment to temple priests and proper conduct of festivals and rituals.
Further, the court barred trustees and managers from selling trust land or ornaments without prior court approval, ruling that any such transactions would be invalid. It also ordered that valuables kept in the locker of SBI's main branch in Darbhanga must not be withdrawn without court sanction, instructing the bank manager to comply.
The suit had sought to declare Maharani Kam Sundari Devi disqualified from the trusteeship, to direct her to present the trust's income and expenditure records, and to appoint Rajeshwar Singh and Kapileshwar Singh as trustees. The judgment finally settles the dispute after nearly five decades.
The Trust was established on March 16, 1949, by Maharaja Kameshwar Singh of Darbhanga. The trust deed was registered to ensure regular worship, rituals, festivals, repairs, and upkeep of temples in Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, and other parts of India built by the family.
The last Maharaja of Darbhanga Raj died issueless in 1962. Of his three wives, Maharani Kam Sundari Devi is the only surviving queen. Prince late Shubheshwar Singh was the youngest of three nephews of Darbhanga Maharaja....
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