May 05, 2025
Supreme Court Rejects Mughal Heir's Claim on Red Fort
A descendant of Bahadur Shah Zafar seeks ownership of the Red Fort; the court dismisses the plea
Sultana Begum, widow of Bahadur Shah Zafar II's great-grandson, claimed rightful ownership of the Red Fort, asserting it was inherited property
The Red Fort, built by Shah Jahan in the 17th century, was seized by the British after the 1857 rebellion and has since been under government control
The Delhi High Court dismissed the plea, citing an inordinate delay of over 150 years in filing the claim, rendering it legally untenable
The court noted that the petitioner failed to provide a convincing reason for the extensive delay in asserting the claim
Sultana Begum, living in modest conditions, argued her family's deprivation of ancestral property due to British actions post-1857
The court emphasized that historical grievances must be addressed within a reasonable timeframe to be considered legally valid
The Red Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a national monument, protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act
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