SC dismisses Mughal ‘heir’ Sultana Begum’s plea for Red Fort ownership as ‘meritless’

The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a petition filed by Sultana Begum, who claimed to be the widow of the great-grandson of the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar II. She had sought possession of Delhi’s historic Red Fort, claiming it as ancestral property that was wrongfully taken over by the British in 1857.

A bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar dismissed the plea at the very beginning of the hearing, labeling it “misconceived” and “meritless.” The court further refused to permit the petitioner’s counsel to withdraw the plea, indicating the court's unwillingness to entertain the claim in any form.

Sultana Begum’s counsel argued that she was a legitimate family member of Bahadur Shah Zafar II and thus entitled to reclaim the Red Fort, which was seized by the British after the First War of Independence. “The petitioner is a family member of the first freedom fighter of the country,” the lawyer submitted.

The Chief Justice responded sharply, questioning the logic behind the demand. “If the arguments are considered, then why only the Red Fort, then why not forts at Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, etc.?” he said, highlighting the impracticality of such historical claims.

The plea had demanded either the return of the Red Fort or financial compensation, alleging that the Government of India is an illegal occupant of the monument, which was once the seat of Mughal power until the British ousted Emperor Zafar in 1857 and exiled him to Rangoon.

Despite the petitioner’s insistence on being the rightful inheritor of the monument, the court held that such historical grievances, especially relating to centuries-old political transitions, cannot be entertained under modern legal frameworks. The court closed the matter without granting any relief.