Tuesday, July 26 2005 13:32 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: A petition, challenging the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Wakf Board's declaring Taj Mahal as a Waqf property, has been filed in the Supreme Court even as the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is mulling over which forum to approach against the decision.

The petition, filed by advocate Ajay K Agrawal in the capacity of President of Taj Conservation Committee, has sought nullifying of the order passed by the Waqf Board on the ground that the apex court has been seized of the matter for the last 21 years and no court, board or Commission has jurisdiction to entertain the issue related to Taj Mahal.

Anticipating challenge of its controversial decision, the Sunni Central Waqf Board, Lucknow, had filed a caveat in the Supreme Court on July 19 to prevent any party from taking an ex-parte order on the issue.

Till now ASI has not approached any forum against the order of the Sunni Waqf Board.

The 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.

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

In his order, Waqf Board Chairman, Hafiz Usman, had pronounced the order which 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 Mughal monument would be pronounced at a later stage but did not specify when.