Only Agra residents may pray at Taj: SC

The order barred outsiders at mosque in Taj Mahal

The Supreme Court on Monday said non-residents of Agra would not be allowed to enter the mosque located inside the Taj Mahal complex to offer Friday prayers. The monument being one of the seven wonders of the world, it cannot be "decimated," the top court ruled.

A bench of Justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan said that there were several other mosques in Agra and the non-residents could offer the customary prayers there.

The court rejected a plea against the January 24 order of Agra's Additional District Magistrate (City) barring non-residents from offering Friday prayers in the mosque inside Taj Mahal on grounds of security. Syed Ibrahim Hussain Zaidi, president of the Taj Mahal Masjid Management Committee, Agra, contended that every person should be permitted to go inside the mosque and offer prayers.

“Why should they go to the Taj Mahal,” the bench wondered.

"There are other mosques also. They can offer their prayers there,” the bench added.

The petitioner said several tourists visited Agra throughout the year and the January 24 order was "illegal, arbitrary and unconstitutional" but the court was not convinced.