Overview
- A bench of Justices B P Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla dismissed the taxi and auto-rickshaw union’s petition seeking a temporary prayer area near CSMIA during Ramzan.
- Police, airport security, the Anti-Terrorism Cell and airport officials surveyed seven alternative locations and found each unsuitable due to congestion, threat perceptions and redevelopment constraints.
- The court said offering prayers at a specific location is not a protected right in a high-security zone and reiterated that passenger safety cannot be compromised.
- Judges noted a madrassa located within roughly one kilometre of the drivers’ parking area as an available option for prayers.
- The order leaves open an administrative route, suggesting the union approach MIAL or AAI for possible allocation when Terminal 1 is redeveloped.