NEW DELHI: The Sunni Waqf Board has claimed its right over the Taj Mahal in the Supreme Court as the board mentioned that the Taj Mahal is owned by the Almighty but must be listed as property of the Sunni Waqf Board for practical purposes.
The Supreme Court had earlier asked the Waqf board to provide ownership documents signed by Shahjahan to back up its claim over the monument.
The Waqf Board told the apex court today that it has no such signed documents from the descendants of Shah Jahan. The lawyer of the Waqf Board told the court that “No human can claim ownership of the marble monument but it is the Waqf Board property because it is allowed to perform the rituals.”
The Waqf board further added that A part of Fatehpur Sikri – the fort near Agra built by emperor Akbar – is registered as Waqf property, where the mosque exists, and the adjourning area is maintained by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI).
ASI opposed the request of the board to consider whether the Taj Mahal can be registered as its property, only for maintenance. The signing off ownership of the Taj Mahal would create other problems and lead to similar claims for the Red Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.
The board’s lawyer said “We don’t have the documents to show Taj Mahal is Waqf property. But by virtue of continuous use, it is a Wakf property and the Sunni Wakf board is entitled to manage the Taj Mahal.”
Chief Justice of India, Deepak Misra responded to it that the decision to do so would create a problem.
The Supreme Court has set the next date for hearing as July 27.
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