News

Raj Memorial plan hits legal road block

One year after the death of thespian Rajkumar, the long-delayed and much-ballyhooed Raj Memorial proposal has stuck in a legal tangle. The question before the Kannada and Culture Department is: Can the memorial come up at Kanteerava Studio in Bangalore, where mortal remains of Rajkumar is buried? Is it legally okay to handover land belonging to Kanteerava Studio Corporation to the proposed Rajkumar Memorial Trust?

While the department is facing the wrath of Raj fans for delay in implementation, it is in a muddle whether to implement the proposals made by the family members of late Rajkumar or not - the Raj’s family has proposed setting up of Rajkumar Memorial Trust on the lines of Kuvempu Prathistana Trust, a highly-placed source in Kannada and Culture Department told Deccan Herald.

Though the Kanteerava Studio Corporation is a State government undertaking, over 100 private shareholders have their stake. “The stakeholders may approach the court if the studio land is transferred to a Trust…In that case, the entire project would land in total mess… And we want to avoid just that,” officials said. It was decided at the high-powered committee meeting headed by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy two months ago to set up the Rajkumar Memorial on the 20-acre land of Kanteerava Studio as per the wishes of the family members. Accordingly, the family members have submitted a set of proposals, including setting up of a Trust.

Other proposals for the memorial include a yoga centre, a small theatre, an exhibition to feature artifacts of late Rajkumar, a garden and an auditorium. Besides, basic amenities like drinking water and toilets for visitors. An official said the studio management has just recovered from a severe financial crisis. “Any move to take away part of the land, proposed to be five acres for the Memorial, may upset the private stakeholders,” they added. The department is also concerned about misuse of prime land at the studio if it is handed over to a Trust. In fact, this is one of the main reasons for delay in the project implementation, officials said.

© 2007 Dr. Rajkumar - Annavaru.