This not the first litigation involving the Taj Mahal in the Supreme Court. The same Bench of the top court had in October 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 referred to as Tejo Mahalaya.
That plea, filed by one Dr Rajneesh Singh, who claims to be the media in-charge of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Ayodhya unit, was deemed to be ‘publicity interest litigation’.
The same petitioner had argued before the Allahabad High Court that many Hindu groups and historians have been claiming that the Taj Mahal is an old Shiva Temple. These claims have 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.
In response to a suit filed in Agra by six advocates claiming that the Taj Mahal is a temple palace, the Central government in 2017 stated that the claim is “concocted” and “self-built”.
Source: Barandbench
