Allahabad High Court dismissed a petition demanding a "fact-finding inquiry" into the Taj Mahal's origins and the opening of its 22 rooms.
Digital Desk: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) revealed photos of several of the Taj Mahal's basement rooms that were opened in January for repair work amid the uproar over the '22 closed rooms.'
Last week, the Allahabad High Court dismissed a petition requesting a "fact-finding inquiry" into the Taj Mahal's past and the opening of its 22 rooms to view "the truth, whatever it is," stating the petitioner failed to specify which of his legal or constitutional rights were being violated.
The images of the repair work appeared in the ASI's January newsletter, which was posted on their website on May 5, days before the court's decision.
Raj Kumar Patel, ASI superintending archaeologist (Agra circle), said that images of the restoration work done by officials between December 2021 and March 2022 are now available on ASI's website "for everyone to view."
According to the ASI website, "The maintenance work of underground cells on the riverside of the Taj Mahal was taken up a few months ago. Decayed and disintegrated lime plaster was removed, and a fresh coat was laid. Traditional lime processing took place before application."
According To The Petition, The Taj Mahal Must Open Its 22 Chambers.
Rajneesh Singh, the BJP's Ayodhya unit's media in charge, requested that the ASI investigate the 22 locked doors of the Taj Mahal to determine the presence of Hindu deity statues earlier this month.
The plea requested the formation of a fact-finding committee and the ASI's production of a report.
"We believe that petitioner has called upon us to give a verdict on a completely non-justiciable issue," the Lucknow bench of justices DK Upadhyay and Subhash Vidyarthi said during the hearing. "The first prayer (to form a fact-finding committee to study the "real history" of the Taj Mahal) cannot be adjudicated by this court," the bench said.
The petitioner cited historians' allegations that the edifice is an antique Shiva Temple and asked the court to allow the ASI to establish a special team to investigate the rooms that have been closed for generations.
The petition's goal, according to Singh, is not to turn the Taj Mahal into a Shiva temple but to uncover the truth behind the closed doors to promote societal harmony.
Continue Reading
