The Supreme Court of India on Monday dismissed a plea filed by Sultana Begum, who claimed to be a descendant of the last Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, seeking possession of the historic Red Fort on the basis of lineage.
A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar refused to entertain the petition, calling it “completely misconceived.” In a sharp remark, the Court questioned the selective claim:
“Why only Red Fort? Why not Fatehpur Sikri? Why leave them also? Writ is completely misconceived. Dismissed.”
The petitioner had approached the apex court challenging the Delhi High Court’s December 2024 decision, which had dismissed her appeal on the ground of delay. The Division Bench of Justices Vibhu Bakhru and Tushar Rao Gedela noted that the plea was filed over 900 days after a single-judge had rejected her petition in 2021.
Attempting to salvage the matter, the counsel for Begum requested the top court to at least dismiss the case on the same ground as the High Court — delay. “Please dismiss on delay only,” the lawyer pleaded. But the Supreme Court refused, choosing instead to reject the claim on its merits.
“No, dismissed,” the Court said conclusively.
The legal battle dates back to 2021, when Sultana Begum approached the Delhi High Court claiming that she was the widow of the great-grandson of Bahadur Shah Zafar II. She argued that her family had been unlawfully dispossessed of their ancestral property — the Red Fort — by the British East India Company after the Revolt of 1857. She further contended that the fort was now under the illegal occupation of the Government of India, and demanded possession and compensation.
However, in December 2021, a single judge had dismissed the plea, pointing out that the cause of action dated back more than 164 years.
“Even if the petitioner’s case were to be accepted… as to how the writ petition would be maintainable after such an inordinate delay of over 164 years when it is an admitted position that the petitioner’s predecessors were always aware of this position,” the judge noted.
The claim, deemed untenable both in terms of law and reason, has now reached the end of the road with the Supreme Court’s firm dismissal.
Case: Sultana Begum vs Union Of India And Anr. – Available on LAWFYI.IO
