Taj Mahal: Allahabad High Court Rejects Plea To Open 22 Locked Rooms Of Taj Mahal
(Judicial Quest News Network)
The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court today dismissed a plea seeking the opening of 22 locked rooms of the Taj Mahal to put to rest the “alleged history” of the monument.
The petitioner had also requested the court to constitute a fact-finding committee to research and sought a direction to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to open the seal of doors of over 20 rooms inside the Taj Mahal premises so that the alleged controversy pertaining to the History of Taj Mahal can be put to rest.
A division bench of Justice DK Upadhayay and Justice Subhash Vidyarthi observed that the prayers are “non-justiciable” and that the matter should be left to the historians.
The plea was filed by Dr.Rajneesh Singh who claimed to be the media-in- charge of the Bhartya Janta Party(BJP) Ajodhya Unit, he contend that the Taj Mahal was a Shiva Temple, known as Tejo Mahalaya.
The Court said “I welcome you to debate the issue with us in the drawing room and not in a court of law.”
It is respectfully submitted that there are certain rooms (approx. 22) situated in upper and lower portions of four storied building which is permanently locked and many Historian like P N Oak and crores of Hindu Worshiper strongly believes that in those lock rooms temple of Lord Shiva is present. In a RTI, question were asked about the reason behind the locking those doors, hidden Rooms and in the Reply by Archeological Survey of India, Agra it was said that due to security reasons those doors are locked.Avers the plea.
It is respectfully submitted that since Taj Mahal is the ancient monument, and crores of money is being invested for the preservation of the monument, the correct and complete historical facts about the monument should be disclosed to the public.
The petitioner argued that there was a truth that the Citizens of the Country needed to know about the Taj Mahal.
“I have also filed many RTI’s .i got to know about many rooms which have been locked and the authorities said that that room are locked because of security reasons.”
The Bench told to the counsel of the petitioner that the relief sought in the plea i.e exploration of facts through a fact finding committee, does not fall under the ambit of Right to Information Act.
“We are unconvinced with your prayers” the court orally told the petitioner’s counsel.
The Court further said that “Go and research. Do M.A Do PhD. Then choose such topic and if any institute disallows you to research on such a topic. Then come to us.Please enrol yourself in MA , then go for NET,JRFand if any University denies you to research on such topic then come to us.”
The filed throughAdvocate Rudra Vikram Singh, argued that many hindu groups have been claiming that the Taj Mahalis an Old Shiva Temple which was known as Tejo Mahalaya, a theory that was supported by many historians as well.
The court has observed that the first prayer, which related to comstitution a fact committee to study real history of the monument, could not be adjudicated.
These issues lies outside the court and should be done by various methodology and should be left with the historians.
