Published 17:11 IST, October 2nd 2019
UK court awards Nizam's fund to India, refutes Pakistan's claims on it
Around 35 million pounds in a UK bank belongs to the Indian descendants of the Nizam of Hyderabad ruled The UK High Court paving way for his family to claim it
Around 35 million pounds in a UK bank belongs to the Indian descendants of the Nizam of Hyderabad ruled The UK High Court paving way for the family members of the Nizam to claim the money.
UK court dismisses Pak's claims over Nizam's fund
The descendants of Nizam, Prince Mukarram Jah and his brother Muffakham Jah had decided to side with the Indian government in their legal battle against Pakistan which claimed over the funds deposited in NatWest bank in London. The whole row is about more than a hundred thousand pounds and nine shillings which were transferred by the Nizam of Hyderabad in 1948 to Britain. The Nizam had sent the money to Britain through the representative of the newly formed Pakistan.
Refuting Pakistan's claims over the money, the court said that “the Fund was held by Pakistan through her High Commissioner in the United Kingdom on trust for Nizam VII and his successors in title. The Fund was not held by Rahimtoola personally, nor did either Pakistan or Rahimtoola have any beneficial interest in the Fund”.
In other words, the court observed that just because the money was deposited in a bank through the representative of Pakistan does not mean the money was given to him personally hence it does not belong to him.
Pakistan had argued that India's claim to the money was illegal as the then Nizam handed over 1007940 Pounds to the High Commissioner of Pakistan in Britain to which the court rejected saying the following:
“First, India is indeed correct in her assertion that the question of illegality is “analytically irrelevant” to the claim to the Fund advanced by India...Secondly, even if the question of illegality were relevant to India’s claims, the Settlement between the Princes and India has rendered the issue irrelevant because the rival claims to the Fund of the Princes and India have validly been compromised, such that the question of illegality is no longer before the Court.”
The case was listed in the UK court as 'The High Commissioner for Pakistan in the UK Vs. Seven others, including the Union of India and the President of India.
Updated 19:22 IST, October 2nd 2019