Hyderabad: The £35 million of the Hyderabad Fund belong to the princes and India, according to the order of the United Kingdom High Court. Para 341 of the order, says, “Nizam VII was beneficially entitled to the Fund and those claiming in right of Nizam VII — the Princes and India — are entitled to have the sum paid out to their order. I will leave it to the parties to frame an appropriate form of order for my approval.”
The two legal heirs of Nizam VII are Prince Mukarram Jah and Prince Muffakam Jah, stated an official order of the Nizam Trust issued on July 17, 2019. Prince Mukarram Jah is the titular Nizam of Hyderabad.
A senior member of the trust told Deccan Chronicle, “The judgment is very clear and it says that these are the two claimants along with India. The claimants had come to an understanding with the Government of India about the fund. The other descendants who claim the money have no role in this.”
The city is abuzz with how many will actually get a share of the £35 million, estimated to be around Rs 307 crore. Nawab Najaf Ali Khan, grandson of the Nizam, has said that he along with 120 heirs, is also a claimant of the fund. The claim is being made based on Mohammedan law. This claim is being made when the Centre settled the Nizam’s jewellery case on all the descendants. But the Nizam Trust states that there are only two legal heirs who are the ‘Princes’.
What was applicable at the time of Union of India is not applicable in this, case assert the trustees.
A member explained, “The descendants of Azam Jah Bahadur are his two sons and four daughters. The petition was filed in the court by the princes and they have staked the claim. The court order pertains to them and India only.”
With the huge amount of money announced, the Nizam’s family is finding itself in the limelight as every descendant is being contacted by various social organisations and politicians.
The trustees of the Nizam Trust too have been receiving many calls but they have decided to lie low till the detailed judgment is received.
