Prayers at any spot not religious right: HC; says no to namaz near Mumbai airport citing security

MUMBAI: (Mar 5) Security overrides religion, the Bombay High Court said on Thursday while refusing any relief to taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers seeking to offer namaz at the site of a now demolished temporary shed near the city airport during Ramzan.

A bench of Justices B P Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla noted that while Ramzan was an integral part of Islam, its adherents cannot claim to have a religious right to offer namaz (prayers) at any place during the holy month, especially in the vicinity of an airport where security concerns are high.

Repeatedly stressing on the aspect of airport security, the HC said it will not throw caution to the wind.