Bikaner House in Delhi faces court-ordered attachment

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): A Delhi court has issued warrants for the attachment of Bikaner House, a prominent property in the capital owned by the Nagar Palika of Rajasthan. District Judge Vidya Prakash passed the order, citing the Nagar Palika's failure to comply with an arbitral award issued in 2020. In the prohibitory order, the court restrained the Nagar Palika from transferring or encumbering the property, whether by sale, gift, or any other means, until further notice.

Bikaner House, a historic building constructed during the reign of Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner (1887–1943), has long served as the Delhi residence for the royal family. It was officially inaugurated on February 18, 1929, with a grand housewarming event. In the pre-Independence era, it became an important venue for meetings among royal families, where discussions were held about their future roles in a newly independent India.

The court’s detailed order pointed to the Nagar Palika’s failure to provide an affidavit of assets, despite being given repeated opportunities. The judgment debtor’s continued absence from court proceedings led the judge to issue the attachment order for Bikaner House. The court also scheduled a hearing for November 29, when the Nagar Palika must appear to settle terms for the sale of the property.