Allahabad High Court Seeks Clarification on Taj Mahal's Origins

Jul 7, 2026

91 min

Jul 7, 2026 11:31

Taj Mahal was Shiva Temple? Allahabad HC seeks centre, ASI reply

## Court Seeks Government and ASI Response

The Allahabad High Court has requested responses from the Indian government and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) regarding a petition that claims the Taj Mahal was originally a Hindu temple named "Tejo Mahalaya." The court has asked for counter-affidavits from both parties, with a hearing to follow once these are received.

## Petition Details

The petition, filed by advocate Hari Shankar Jain, represents the deity Lord Sri Agreshwar Mahadev Nagnatheswar Virajman and several devotees. It challenges previous court decisions that denied permission for an inspection of the Taj Mahal. The petitioners are pushing for a court-supervised inspection to determine the monument's origins, citing 109 features that they believe indicate a Hindu temple.

## Historical Claims

According to the petition, the Taj Mahal was initially a Shiva temple constructed in 1155-56 AD by Raja Paramardi Dev. It is claimed that Mughal emperor Shah Jahan later converted it into a mausoleum for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, by adding Islamic architectural elements. The petitioners argue that features like the lotus-petal design and the dome's finial are indicative of Hindu architecture.

## Legal Background

This legal battle has been ongoing for several years. In 2019, the petitioners sought a survey of the Taj Mahal from a civil court in Agra, which was denied due to insufficient evidence. An additional district judge also dismissed a revision plea earlier this year. The petitioners have now approached the Allahabad High Court, arguing that previous rejections were based on technicalities.

## Current Status

The High Court has not yet commented on the validity of the claims but has requested responses from the Centre and the ASI before proceeding further. An interim application has also been filed to allow the ASI to photograph the Taj Mahal in the presence of the petitioners.

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