The Supreme Court today ruled out a plea challenging the Agra authority’s order baring the non residents from performing Namaz in the Taj Mahal complex.The court in its verdict said that only residents of Agra with valid identity proof will only be allowed to perform Namaz in the complex.
The bench consisting of Justice A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan said that the Taj Mahal is one of the seven wonders of the world and people have several other mosques to offer their prayers. The court said that the preservation of Taj Mahal was at most important and henceforth every body cannot be allowed to perform namaz in the premises.
In order preserve the foolproof security to the heritage monument, the Agra district administration had passed an order on January 24, baring non locals from performing namaz in the complex. But this order was challenged by a person who went to the Supreme Court seeking permission to perform namaz. The district administration had ordered that people wanting to perform namaz should carried a valid identity and residential proof to show they resided in Agra. Since the Taj Mahal is closed for public on Fridays, allowing tourists only to perform Namaz was a matter of huge risk.
The administration’s move came following complaints that “outsiders” including Bangladeshis and non-Indians”, enter the Taj Mahal complex on Fridays on the pretext of offering ‘namaz” which forced the DC to pass a strict action.
The order also stated that the district magistrate should be immediately informed in case any outsider tries to enter the mosque. The order issued by additional district magistrate (city) K P Singh also states that entry of ‘outsiders’ can adversely affect the security of the monument ()
“Now, we will allow only residents of Agra city to offer namaz at the mosque located inside the Taj Mahal complex,” said Agra district magistrate Guarav Dayal. It is said that similar orders were issued in 2013 by the ASI, but the order was not strictly followed till now.
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