New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea filed by Sultana Begum, claiming ownership of Delhi’s iconic Red Fort as a descendant of Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar II. The court termed the petition “misconceived,” and Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna even remarked in jest, “Why only Red Fort? Why not Fatehpur Sikri or the Taj Mahal?”
Sultana Begum, who resides in Howrah near Kolkata, had approached the court seeking either possession of the 17th-century monument or financial compensation. She argued that the Red Fort, seized by the British after the 1857 revolt and the exile of Bahadur Shah Zafar II, rightfully belonged to her family.
This wasn’t her first attempt. In 2021, the Delhi High Court had also rejected her plea, citing lack of legal grounds. She later appealed that decision, claiming delays were due to her ill health and illiteracy. However, the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal on similar grounds, noting it was filed too late.
Sultana Begum had previously received a government pension, inherited from her husband Bedar Bakht, whom the government recognized in 1960 as a legitimate descendant of the last Mughal emperor. She argued the pension was insufficient and the government’s refusal to compensate her for the Red Fort’s use violated her rights under Article 300A of the Constitution.
Despite her persistent efforts, the court has now firmly rejected her claim, putting an end to the decades-old demand for the return of the historic monument.
