Bombay HC refuses relief to those offering namaz near Mumbai international airport

Mumbai: Considering security as paramount, the Bombay High Court has refused any sort of relief to taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers seeking to offer namaz at the site of a now-demolished temporary shed near the city Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai during the month of Ramzan.

The court made it very clear that it was not preventing anyone from praying, but noted that hat prayers cannot be offered just anywhere when security concerns are involved.

The order came from a division bench of the Bombay High Court comprising Justice B P Colabawalla and Justice Firdosh Pooniwalla.

“…Ramzan is an integral part of Islam…however, one cannot aim to a religious right to offer namaz at any place during especially near an airport where security concerns are high,” the bench noted.

The petition was filed by the taxi-rickshaw Ola-Uber Men’s Union claiming that a temporary shed near the CSMIA, where they used to offer prayers, was demolished by authorities around a year ago.

The association has sought permission to use the same space or be allotted another site in the same area where they could offer namaz.

“When there is a security risk…security comes first; irrespective of religion. When it comes to security, we will not compromise one bit…religion or otherwise – security comes first. Everybody travel through this airport irrespective of their religion,” the bench said.

The court also pointed out that there was a madrassa located within one km where prayers could be offered and rejected the plea of offering prayers at a particular spot.

“You cannot decide the place. Tomorrow you will say you want to stand in the middle of Oval Maidan and offer prayers. That is not possible," the court said.