During the time of His Highness Prince Azim Jah Bahadur, the first Prince of Arcot, the Royapettah Police Court functioned in the present Amir Mahal building. The Government wanted to make a gift of this building to His Highness the Prince of Arcot and desired that his successors-in-title reside in this palace in future, but the Prince of Arcot represented to the Government that in the meagre income he and his successors received, they were not in a position to lookafter the upkeep and repairs of the palace and to pay municipal taxes, and requested the Government to sanction a budget for the upkeep and annual repairs of the palace. The Government agreed to his proposals and added the aforesaid expenditure in the public budget.

The premises where the present Egmore Court is situated, was purchased by the Government for Rs.45,OOO/- and the Royapettah Police Court was shifted there. The older building, subsequently known as Royapettah House, was converted into a residential building after making certain alterations and improvements for the use and occupation of the Prince of Arcot for the time being.