Delhi High Court Rejects Woman's Plea Claiming To Be Heir Of Bahadur Shah Zafar II, Seeking Possession Of Red Fort

The Delhi High Court on Friday dismissed a plea filed by one Sultana Begum, seeking possession of Red Fort, claiming herself to be the widow of the great grandson of the last Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar II.

A division bench comprising of Acting Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela dismissed the appeal moved by the woman challenging a single judge order of December 2021 which rejected her plea.

The bench noted that the appeal was filed after a delay of more than two and half years which could not be condoned.

The Court also dismissed the application seeking condonation of delay.

The woman claimed that the possession was taken away from her forcibly, by British East India Company in 1857.

The single judge had dismissed her petition on the ground of there being an inordinate delay in approaching the Court.

Moved by Advocate Vivek More, the plea had claimed Begum to be the rightful owner of Red Fort for the reason of inheriting the property from her ancestor Bahadur Shah Zafar II. It also alleged that the Government of India was illegally occupying the Fort.

The plea had also sought directions on the respondent authorities to grant her compensation from the year 1857 till date for the alleged illegal possession by the Government of India.

Case Title: SULTANA BEGUM v. UNION OF INDIA & OTHERS