SC Slams Dentist praying to open closed doors of Taj Mahal
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a plea seeking to open the sealed doors of Taj Mahal and slammed the dentist who had filed the Public Interest Litigation for using legal process as means to gain publicity.
Therefore, the top court bench comprising of Justices M.R.Shah and M.M. Sundresh denied to interfere with the order of the Allahabad High Court, which had earlier dismissed the PIL calling it a "mockery" in the name of Public Interest Litigations.
"Having gone through the impugned judgment and order passed by the High Court, we are fully satisfied that the High Court has rightly refused to entertain the PIL and grant any relief, as prayed," noted the bench.
"It prima facie appears that it was not a public interest litigation but a publicity interest litigation, which is rightly not entertained by the High Court for the relief(s) sought," noted the bench while rebuking the petitioner.
Also Read: False threat calls case: Ghaziabad Doctor booked for lodging complaint to gain publicity
As per the latest media report by Hindustan Times, the petitioner Rajneesh Singh, who is a dentist by profession sought to open 22 closed rooms of the ancient monument Taj Mahal to confirm the presence of any Hindu idols inside. The reason for such a plea is his belief as he had argued that in the place where the monument stood was once a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, known as Tejo Mahalaya. Clearly, the belief of the petitioner sounds familiar to a conspiracy theory that has been voiced on earlier occasions.
Previously while considering his plea, the Allahabad High Court had dismissed the same calling it a "mockery" in the name of PILs. Finding no grounds to consider the plea, the HC bench had earlier termed the plea as thoroughly misconceived and noted that "Right to get a research or study is not made out. It's an area for researchers or academicians and not for Court."
"Verdict on historical aspects cannot be given by court," the HC bench had noted.
However, the petitioner did not stop there and he had written to the Union Culture Ministry and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to constitute a fact-finding committee of experts for examining the documents related to the sale of land on which Taj Mahal was built by the Rajput king Raja Jai Singh to Mughal Emperor Shahjahan.
It should be mentioned in this context that the concerned petitioner claimed to be associated with the Ayodhya unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and demanded in his plea that a committee of experts probe if the idols of Hindu gods or ancient inscriptions were hidden inside the sealed rooms of the Taj Mahal.
After the Lucknow bench of HC dismissed his plea, the petitioner approached the Supreme Court bench challenging the May 21 order.
However, the Supreme Court bench also trashed the plea calling it a "publicity interest litigation" and observed, "It is ultimately for the archaeological department and the Government to look into the matter."
"We see no reason to interfere with the impugned order passed by the High Court," further read the order.
To read the order, click on the link below.
https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/supreme-court-taj-mahal-188896.pdf
Also Read: What are you doing to protect doctors against violence? SC asks Govt council
