RAMSHARAN AUTYANUPRASI Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is a petition under Art. 32 of the Constitution, filed by Ramsharan Autyanurasi and Vijendra Singh. They assert that it is public interest litigation. This petition was addressed to one of the learned Judges of this Court by name.

(2.) The petitioners state that they wanted to bring to the notice of the Judge the total disarray caused by the arbitrary and highhanded running of the premier institution of ancient art, culture and history in Rajasthan, namely, the "Sawai Man Singh II Museum Trust by its Chairman Lt. Col Sawai Bhawami Singh. They further state that since they are the concerned citizens of the State and the country, it is their duty to seek Court's intervention in this matter. It is asserted that in Jaipur, Rajasthan, the Maharaj Sawai Mansingh II Museum Trust had been created by Late Maharaja Sawai Mansingh as Public Trust and the same was registered as a Public Trust under the provision of the Rajasthan Public Trust Act, 1959 (Rajasthan Act 42 of 1959).

(3.) The petitioners state that Lt. General Maharaj Rajendra Maharaj Dhiraj Sawai Man Singh of Jaipur and his predecessors, rulers of erstwhile Jaipur State had founded the museum for the benefit of the public, in a portion of the City Palace, Jaipur and this museum has a large number of items of value and is being used for the benefit of the public of the State of Jaipur and by visitors to that State. Hence, Lt. General His Highness Maharaj Sawai Man Singh II, Maharaj of Jaipur had dedicated and declared the State museum along with all the collections constituted therein and an additional sum of Rs. 1 lac after relinquishing all personal rights, title and interest therein and vested the same in favour of the trustee as owners thereof, to have and hold the same upon Trust for the benefit of all inhabitants of Jaipur and for the visitors to Jaipur irrespective of caste, creed or religion, giving them right to have access to and be at liberty to use the museum with powers to manage, maintain, protect, promote, preserve, augment and improve the State museum. It is stated that he did this by executing a proper deed of indenture and registering the same. The Trust so created was named "His Highness Maharaja of Jaipur Museum Trust" and was expressly declared to be irrevocable the late Maharaja having relinquished his own interest totally, reserving no rights or powers by the settlor.