Supreme Court denies Red Fort claim by Sultana Begum
The Supreme Court dismissed Sultana Begum's petition, in which she had claimed the Red Fort. CJI Sanjiv Khanna termed the petition as ridiculous and said why only Red Fort, why not Fatehpur Sikri and Taj Mahal. Earlier, the Delhi High Court had also dismissed this petition.
New Delhi: On Monday, the Supreme Court rejected a petition from Sultana Begum, the widow of the great-grandson of Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar. Sultana Begum asserted that she was the rightful heir to Bahadur Shah Zafar (II) and requested ownership of the Red Fort in Delhi. The Delhi High Court had previously denied her plea, prompting her to challenge the decision in the Supreme Court. Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna initially laughed at the petition requesting possession of the Red Fort before ultimately dismissing it.
CJI Khanna's statement
Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna questioned why the focus was solely on the Red Fort and not on other historical sites like Fatehpur Sikri or the Taj Mahal. In the Supreme Court, CJI Khanna expressed that this was a matter for debate. The bench led by CJI Khanna declined to consider the petition from Sultana Begum, who is the widow of the great-grandson of Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar (II), deeming it inappropriate. Sultana Begum has reportedly asserted her status as the legal heir to Bahadur Shah Zafar (II), seeking ownership of the Red Fort situated in Delhi.
Petition filed in High Court in 2021
Begum, residing in Howrah near Calcutta, initially submitted a petition to the High Court in 2021, seeking increased government attention and financial assistance. Before approaching the Supreme Court, an unusual petition was presented to the Delhi High Court to claim ownership of the Red Fort, a key national monument. Sultana Begum asserted in her petition that the Red Fort, constructed by her forebears, was forcibly taken over by the British East India Company in 1857.
The firm apprehended his grandfather, father-in-law, and the final Mughal ruler, Bahadur Shah Zafar, sending him to Rangoon prison. Subsequently, the British government took control of the Red Fort, which has been under the Government of India since independence.