KATHMANDU: Late Prince Dhirendra Shah's daughters today opposed the claim of Jaya Shah Pandey on their father's property. Submitting separate rejoinders on the same contention to the Kathmandu District Court (KDC), three ex-princesses -- Puja Rajya Laxmi Shahi, Sitashma Rajya Laxmi Shah and Dilasha Rajya Laxmi Rana -- declined to recognise Jaya Shah Pandey as their step-mother.

"We don't know the plaintiff. If she was a wife of our father, it should have to come to our notice," a KDC staffer quoted their rejoinders. According to him, the trio challenged Jaya's plea over her locus standi (the right to move the court) against them, as they are married daughters of the ex-prince and have no claim on his property. Consequently, they are not responsible for providing her a part of their father's property, it was maintained.

Stating that she was the third wife of Dhirendra, Jaya filed the lawsuit in the KDC on October 12, demanding property from her 'step-daughters'.

Jaya had sought the court intervention to reclaim property from her 'step-daughters'. Stating that she has a legitimate share on Dhirendra's property, she sought the court order also to provide the property as per Number 20, 21, 22 and 23 of the Partition of Property Chapter of the Country's Code 1963.

Jaya also claimed to have been married with Dhirendra on April 22, 1987 at Dakshinkali temple as a third wife amid a royal function after years of love affair. She added that her husband had tied the knot with Shiriley Greaney Shah as his third wife, to whom Ushana Shah was born. However, Dhirendra divorced the third wife long back. Jaya has been living in the US city of Belmont, with her daughter Shreya, as advised by Dhirendra citing security reasons.

"We will devise our strategy after analysing the issue in a serious manner," Jaya's legal counsel Surya KC said.