Taj Mahal belongs to Almighty: Uttar Pradesh Sunni Wakf Board tells Supreme Court

The Uttar Pradesh Sunni Wakf Board told the Supreme Court on Tuesday that it could not stake its claim of ownership of the Taj Mahal since the Almighty owns it. In an earlier hearing, the SC had asked the religious body to prove its ownership of the 17th century mausoleum.

However, on Tuesday, the Wakf board submitted that it had no such signed documents from the descendants of the Shah Jahan — the Mughal Emperor who commissioned it in honour of his wife.

No human can claim ownership of the marble monument, the board submitted, adding, “But it is Wakf Board property because it is allowed to perform rituals.” The board also submitted that it could manage the Taj Mahal without claiming ownership of it.

A part of Fatehpur Sikri — the fort near Agra built by emperor Akbar — is registered as Wakf property, where the mosque exists, and the adjourning area is maintained by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI), said the Sunni Waqf board.

The Wakf board then urged ASI to consider whether the Taj Mahal can be registered as its property, only for maintenance.

However, the ASI opposed this expressing its concern that signing off ownership of the Taj Mahal would create similar problems and spur claims for the Red Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.

“We don’t have the documents to show Taj Mahal is Wakf property. But by virtue of continuous use, it is a Wakf property and the Sunni Wakf board is entitled to manage the Taj Mahal,” the Sunni board’s lawyer said.

The court has set the next date of hearing on July 27.

WAKF BOARD’S REASON TO WALK AWAY

• Wakf board submitted that it had no signed documents from the descendants of the Shah Jahan.
   
• No human can claim ownership of the marble monument; said it could maintain without ownership