The five palaces of the last Nizam of the erstwhile state of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan, are the subject of a partition case, which will now go on trial to determine whether they will remain with the heirs of his grandson, Mukarram Jah, or the other heirs of the Nizam will have a right to them.
This development came after a city court dismissed the interlocutory application filed by the children of the grandson of the last Nizam of Hyderabad, against a suit filed by his other legitimate heirs seeking partition and possession of five of the most prominent and historical palaces, which include Falaknuma Palace, Chowmahalla Palace, Purani Haveli, and King Kothi Palace in Hyderabad and Harewood and Cedars Bungalow situated in Ooty.
The total value of the properties are said to be more than Rs 10,000 crore. The suit filed by one of the heirs, Nawab Najaf Ali Khan, grandson of Nizam Mir Osman Ali, contends that his properties and heritage belonged collectively to all the heirs and not to an individual. The suit involves 232 defendants, including Indian Hotels Company Private Limited, which runs the Taj Faluknama Palace.
The last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, who was once considered the richest person in the world, had announced his grandson, Mukkaram Jah, as his heir. He was also coronated in a function at Chowmohalla Palace after the death of the seventh Nizam. Mukarram Jah died in January 2023, and in a private function, his son Azmet Shah was proclaimed as his heir. However, the other legitimate heirs of the Nizam did not accept him and announced Nawab Raunaq Yar Khan as the next Nizam.
Meanwhile, Nawab Najaf Ali Khan had filed a suit seeking the partition and possession of the palaces even while Mukarram Jah was alive. Last year, his children, Azmet Jah and Shekhar Jah, had filed the interlocutory application seeking the dismissal of the partition suit. However, with the rejection of the application the suit seeking the partition and possession of the palaces will now go to full trial.
Nawab Najaf Ali Khan said, “This order is a reaffirmation of faith in justice and due process. The properties and heritage of my grandfather HEH Nawab Sir Mir Osman Ali Khan Bahadur belong collectively to all legitimate heirs and not to any one individual.”
