10 months ago
Awadh Royals to Sue British High Commission Over Pension
Imagine a long time ago, a royal family lent a lot of money to a big company called the East India Company.
The company promised to pay them a special monthly allowance, like a pension, in silver coins.
But after India became independent, the way they paid changed.
First, it was in nickel coins, which were worth less, and then in rupees, which are worth even less than silver.
Now, the descendants of the royal family only get a very small amount of money each month, sometimes just a couple of rupees.
They feel this isn't fair because the company broke its promise.
So, they have decided to go to court to ask for the money they believe they are owed, and they want the British government to be involved because the company was British.
Descendants of the Awadh royal family plan to sue over devalued pension payments.
The original agreement with the East India Company promised pensions in silver coins.
Historical records indicate loans were made by royal family members to the East India Company.
Successive governments have reduced the value of the pension by changing payment methods and currency.
The lawsuit will include the British High Commission, central, and state governments as parties.
- Who
- Descendants of the royal family of Awadh, represented by the Royal Family of Awadh organization
- What
- Planning to file a lawsuit to claim a 'respectable' pension (wasika) based on historical loan agreements with the East India Company.
- Where
- Primarily in India, with the British High Commission named as a party.
- When
- Decision to move court made recently; specific court date not mentioned.
- Why
- To reclaim pension payments that have significantly devalued from the originally promised silver coins to meager amounts in rupees.
Key facts
- Descendants Represented By
- Royal Family of Awadh
- Reason for Claim
- Unfulfilled pension agreement (wasika) made with East India Company
- Historical Basis
- Loan of ₹4 crore by Bahu Begum and ₹12 lakh by Mohammad Ali Shah to East India Company
- Original Agreement
- Pension to be paid in silver coins
- Current Payment Method
- Rupee, resulting in devaluation
- Current Payout
- ₹2 to ₹569 per month per person, cumulative ₹22,000 for over 800 members
- Action Planned
- Filing a lawsuit; naming British High Commission, central, and state governments as parties
Quotes
Shikoh Azad
general secretary of the Royal Family of Awadh, an organisation of descendants of the nawabs of Awadh, and a descendant of former Awadh ruler Mohammad Ali Shah
“Shah had also given a loan of ₹12 lakh to the East India Company because they had begged the nawabs to help them in running their businesses. The British promised a pension in return, and it was called wasika. The successive governments kept defining the amount according to their wish. Currently, the government pays a cumulative ₹22,000 per month to over 800 members of the royal family, who live in Lucknow.”
telegraphindia.com
“We have met Lucknow MP and defence minister Rajnath Singh twice. He also gave us a positive response, but did nothing substantial. Our only option now is to approach the court. We’ll make the British high commission a party because our money is still with the British and it is their responsibility to continue paying us what they had agreed upon”
telegraphindia.com
A member of the royal family
a member of the royal family speaking on the condition of anonymity
“We make it a point to look our best while visiting the office. We may have been short-changed, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that we belong to the royal family”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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