Wodeyar in the petition has challenged the Mysore Palace (Acquisition and Transfer) Act, 1998, and also the validity of the gazette notification issued on November 30.

The petitioner, son of the late Sri Jayachamaraja Wodeyar, former ruler of Mysore, said the Palace was built by his fore-fathers and it housed a number of buildings and temples.

Wodeyar said the High Court itself had earlier allowed a petition by him for direction to the State to hand over possession of the Palace to him. The Government's appeal in the Supreme Court was also dismissed and a contempt plea of the petitioner is pending in the High Court.

Stating that the State Legislature passed the impugned Bill and notified it in the gazette, the petitioner contendedthat the Legislature had no powers to pass such an Act.

In another petition, Wodeyar submitted that the Palace had movables such as the golden howdah, the royal throne, royal wears, royal treasury, ornaments and paintings, which he contended, were governed by the Antiquities and Art Treasure Act passed by the Parliament and hence the Mysore Palace Act was ultra vires. The judge adjourned further hearing on the petitions to December 16.