The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a plea filed by Sultana Begum, a woman who claims to be the widow of the great-grandson of Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar. She had asked for the possession of Delhi’s iconic Red Fort, claiming she was the rightful legal heir.
A bench of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar dismissed her petition right at the start, calling it “misconceived” and “meritless”.
No Ground for the Claim, Says SC
“The writ petition filed initially was misconceived and meritless. It cannot be entertained,” said Chief Justice Khanna.
The court also refused to let Sultana Begum’s lawyer withdraw the plea. Her counsel argued that she was a family member of India’s “first freedom fighter”.
But the Chief Justice responded, “If we accept this argument, then why stop at Red Fort? Why not also claim forts in Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, and others?”
Too Much Delay, High Court Had Said
This is not the first time Sultana Begum’s plea has been turned down. In December 2023, a division bench of the Delhi High Court rejected her appeal, noting that she had delayed filing it by over two-and-a-half years. The court said this delay could not be excused.
Begum had said she could not approach the court earlier due to poor health and the death of her daughter. However, the court found this explanation “inadequate”.
Back in December 2021, a single judge of the Delhi High Court had already dismissed her main petition. That order pointed out that she had taken over 150 years to raise her claim, which was far too late.
What Was Her Argument?
Begum claimed that her family lost possession of the Red Fort after the British took control of it during the 1857 revolt. After that, Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar was exiled, and the fort was taken over by the British East India Company.
She said she had inherited the Red Fort from her ancestor and that the Government of India was now holding it illegally. She asked the court to either return the Red Fort to her or give her suitable compensation.
SC Closes the Case
With the Supreme Court now rejecting her plea as having no merit, the long-running claim by Sultana Begum comes to an end, at least in the eyes of the law.
A bench of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar dismissed her petition right at the start, calling it “misconceived” and “meritless”.
No Ground for the Claim, Says SC
“The writ petition filed initially was misconceived and meritless. It cannot be entertained,” said Chief Justice Khanna.
The court also refused to let Sultana Begum’s lawyer withdraw the plea. Her counsel argued that she was a family member of India’s “first freedom fighter”.
But the Chief Justice responded, “If we accept this argument, then why stop at Red Fort? Why not also claim forts in Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, and others?”
Too Much Delay, High Court Had Said
This is not the first time Sultana Begum’s plea has been turned down. In December 2023, a division bench of the Delhi High Court rejected her appeal, noting that she had delayed filing it by over two-and-a-half years. The court said this delay could not be excused.
Begum had said she could not approach the court earlier due to poor health and the death of her daughter. However, the court found this explanation “inadequate”.
Back in December 2021, a single judge of the Delhi High Court had already dismissed her main petition. That order pointed out that she had taken over 150 years to raise her claim, which was far too late.
What Was Her Argument?
Begum claimed that her family lost possession of the Red Fort after the British took control of it during the 1857 revolt. After that, Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar was exiled, and the fort was taken over by the British East India Company.
She said she had inherited the Red Fort from her ancestor and that the Government of India was now holding it illegally. She asked the court to either return the Red Fort to her or give her suitable compensation.
SC Closes the Case
With the Supreme Court now rejecting her plea as having no merit, the long-running claim by Sultana Begum comes to an end, at least in the eyes of the law.
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