Taj Mahal’s 22 Rooms Won’t be Opened As Allahabad HC Junks Plea, Says ‘Issue is for Historians to Study’

The Allahabad High Court on Thursday dismissed a petition seeking it to issue directives to open 22 rooms inside the world’s wonder — Taj Mahal in Agra – to find if Hindu idols and inscriptions are hidden there.

The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad high court pulled up the petitioner – Dr Rajneesh Singh, who claims to be the media in charge of the BJP’s Ayodhya unit – and asked him not to misuse the PIL system. Justice DK Upadhayay also asked the petitioner to do proper research about Taj Mahal before coming to the court. “Tomorrow you will ask for permission to see our chambers. Please, don’t make mockery of the PIL system,” the bench said during the hearing.

“Prayer regarding opening up of room, we may indicate that any historical research will involve a particular methodology. These issues are for the historians/academicians to study, research upon and are for the debates. Court of law is not equipped with proper justiciable management standards for the purpose,” the bench added.

“We are not able to entertain the writ petition,” the court said, and dismissed the plea.

Justice Upadhayay, before dismissing the petition, asked the petitioner to go to university and do a proper PhD before coming to the court. “If someone stops you from doing research, let us know. Will history be taught according to you? Go and read first who made the Taj Mahal and when it was made. Don’t make fun of the PIL system,” he said.

The plea was filed last week before the Lucknow Bench of the HC, seeking direction from the government to constitute a fact-finding committee and “search for important historical evidence” such as statues and inscriptions hidden inside the Taj Mahal on the orders of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.

The petition, filed through advocate Rudra Vikram Singh, argued that several Hindu groups are claiming that the Taj Mahal is an old Shiva temple known as ‘Tejo Mahalaya’ and this is also supported by several historians. The petition claimed that these claims have created a situation where Hindus and Muslims are fighting among themselves and hence the dispute needs to be put to an end.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party tweeted on the issue and lauded the court for rapping the petitioner.

“Thanks to the court. The most famous historical heritage, Taj Mahal is a sign of love and is a special identity of India in the world. The strict remarks of the High Court on the constant ‘playing of’ under the protection of power are welcome. The government should stop diverting the attention of the public from the basic problems,” the party tweeted.

(With IANS inputs)

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