20 locked rooms of Taj Mahal : Coming down heavily on the petitioner, Allahabad HC rejects plea

New Delhi, May 12: Regarding the opening of sealed doors of over 20 rooms inside the Taj Mahal premises and the petition that sought a direction to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on Thursday (May 12) came down heavily on a petitioner and rejected his plea.

 

 

 

 

On May 9, Dr. Rajneesh Singh had filed a petition in the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court to seek directives to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for opening 20 rooms inside the Taj Mahal in Agra. However, rejecting Dr. Singh's plea a division bench of Justice DK Upadhyay and Justice Subhash Vidyarthi said, "Such debates are meant for drawing room, not for a court of law."

 

 

 

 

 

The petition read that, "There is an old controversy related to the Taj Mahal. Around 20 rooms in Taj Mahal are locked and no one is allowed to enter. It is believed that in these rooms there are idols of Hindu gods and scriptures." Accordingly the counsel for the petitioner submitted that the court should appoint a committee and a truth which the citizens of the country need to know about the Taj Mahal, must come out.

 

 

 

However, the bench responded with a counter question stating, "Tomorrow you'll come and ask us to go to the chambers of Hon'ble judges of this court? You hold that the structure (Taj Mahal) was not made by Shah Jahan? Are we here to pronounce any verdict? Please don't take us to the historical fact." Besides, the bench also pointed out that his request was denied by authorities citing security reasons and he should challenge the orders if aggrieved.