Tuesday, July 19 2005 18:10 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: With the Archaeological Survey of India declaring that it would challenge its controversial decision declaring Taj Mahal as a Waqf property, the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board today filed a caveat in Supreme Court to prevent ASI from taking an ex parte order on the issue.

"If any petition, application, is filed let nothing be done without notices to the Board's counsel," Waqf Board's lawyer Anis Suhrawardy said in the caveat.

Acting on directions of the Allahabad High Court, UP Sunni Central Waqf Board had on July 13 declared Taj Mahal a Waqf property 'by use' and ordered its registration as such in accordance with the Waqf Act 1995.

ASI, which is the custodian of the World Heritage Monument had said the verdict was 'not in the interest of Taj' and it would challenge it in an 'appropriate legal forum.'

In his order, Waqf Board Chairman, Hafiz Usman, had pronounced the order that said the Taj Mahal, the connected mosques and tombs, which were surrounded by a wall, were 'Waqf Property'.

However, he said the decision about the management of the Taj Mahal would be pronounced at a later stage but did not specify when.