The Supreme Court of India has turned down 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 the historic Red Fort in Delhi, asserting it was her rightful ancestral property.
The case was heard on May 5, 2025, by a bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar. The bench dismissed the plea, calling it “wholly misconceived.” The court made it clear that the petition lacked legal substance and questioned its rationale.
“Why only the Red Fort? Why leave out the Fatehpur Sikri?” – CJI Sanjiv Khanna remarked during the hearing, highlighting the questionable nature of the claim.
Sultana Begum argued that the Red Fort was forcibly taken from her ancestors by the British East India Company during the year 1857. She insisted that her family was the rightful heir to the Mughal throne and, by extension, to the Red Fort. The claim also included a demand for compensation from 1857 to the present day, alleging illegal occupation by the Government of India.
Read Also:- Supreme Court Seeks Centre's Reply on Blocking of '4PM News' YouTube Channel
However, the Supreme Court upheld the previous judgments of the Delhi High Court, which had already dismissed her claims. The single-judge bench in 2021 had rejected her plea due to an unreasonable delay in approaching the court. Later, in December 2024, the division bench of the High Court confirmed the earlier decision, finding no merit in her appeal.
Case : Sultana Begum vs Union of India. | SLP(C) No. 12032/2025
