Supreme Court Upholds Bihar Shia Waqf Board’s Claim Over Rizwan Palace in Patna

New Delhi/ Patna: The Supreme Court of India has ruled in favor of the Bihar State Shia Waqf Board in a long-standing legal dispute over Rizwan Palace, a prime property located on Fraser Road near Dakbungalow Crossing in Patna. The verdict marks a significant victory for the board after years of litigation from the lower court to the High Court.

Built in the early twentieth century, the edifice was designed on the lines of Scottish Tudor castles with bastions at the corners, battlements on the top and cross- shaped designs on the tracery. It was the residence of Hassan Imam (1871- 1933), a leading lawyer of Patna

Syed Afzal Abbas, chairman of the Bihar State Shia Waqf Board, said that Rizwan Palace is part of the Hasan Imam Waqf Estate, which was waqfed by Hasan Imam in 1929. According to him, the property, spanning 122 katthas, was officially registered as waqf land by Hasan Imam in 1931.

The Patna High Court had earlier recognized Rizwan Palace and its associated land as waqf property, placing it under the supervision of the district administration. The Supreme Court’s decision now solidifies the board’s legal claim over the estate.

At present, Rizwan Palace is being used to accommodate a small contingent of Bihar Police. The state tourism department had also proposed plans to redevelop the property into a five-star heritage hotel.