The Supreme Court Friday dismissed a plea seeking the opening of certain rooms of the Taj Mahal to put to rest the "alleged history" of the monument including claims that it it was a Shiva temple, Tejo Mahalaya. [Dr Rajneesh Singh v. Union of India and Ors]

A bench of Justices MR Shah and MM Sundresh said that the plea, an appeal against an order of the Allahabad High Court, was a 'publicity interest litigation' and dismissed the petition.

"The High Court was not in error in dismissing the petition, which is more of a publicity interest litigation. Dismissed," the apex court ordered.

The petition was filed by one Dr Rajneesh Singh, who claimed to be the media in-charge of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Ayodhya unit.

The plea sought a direction to the government to constitute a fact-finding committee and to “look for important historical evidence” like idols and inscriptions that are believed to be hidden inside the Taj Mahal on the orders of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.

The petitioner had argued before the Allahabad High Court that many Hindu groups have been claiming that the Taj Mahal is an old Shiva Temple which was known as Tejo Mahalaya, a theory that was supported by many historians as well.

These claims has led to a situation where Hindus and Muslims are fighting with each other and therefore the controversy needs to be put to rest, it was contended.

Singh stated that there are 22 rooms situated in the upper and lower portion of the four-storied building of the Taj Mahal that are permanently locked and historians like PN Oak and many Hindu worshippers believe that a Shiva temple lies in those rooms.

This is not the first time that such claims regarding the "Tejo Mahalaya" have surfaced before the courts. In response to a suit filed in Agra by six advocates claiming that the Taj Mahal is Tejo Mahalaya Temple palace, the Central government in 2017 stated that the claim is “concocted” and “self-built”.

References:

barandbench.com