How a land dispute involving Vadodara’s royal family has lasted over 50 years — and counting

For over half a century, a land dispute between Vadodara's royal family and a temple trust has left a lasting impact on the city. The battle began in 1971 when the royal family claimed the land as part of their ancestral Lukshmi Vilas Palace estate. In 1979, a local administrative officer determined that certain plots belonged to the temple trust. This dispute persisted through various court rulings until the Gujarat High Court sided with the temple trust in 1991, ruling that the land was rightfully theirs.

In June 2023, the Collector of Vadodara, acting as an administrator of the temple trust, ordered the demolition of the residents' homes, citing a violation of land ownership laws. Despite challenges from the royal family, the demolitions took place on July 18, leaving the area's residents without homes. The royal family has filed further petitions in the High Court, arguing that the evictions were illegal and conducted without proper legal procedures.

The collector's decision has sparked a fresh legal battle, highlighting the ongoing struggle over the land's true ownership.