April 11,2018:

Bench stated that,“Who in India will believe it belongs to the wakf board? These kind of issues must not waste the time of the Supreme Court".

Uttar Pradesh Sunni Wakf Board, is at cross-roads with Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) over ownership of Taj Mahal was asked by Supreme Court to produce documents signed by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to prove its claim over the monument.

Board has a weeks time to produce the signatures of emperor who died in 1666, almost 18 years after monument was built in memory of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

Apex Court Bench headed by CJI Dipak Misra was hearing a 2010 appeal filed by ASI.

Supreme Court directed Board to produce the documents in support of its claim that none other than Shah Jahan declared the Taj a wakf property.

Wakf is an endowment of land or property by a Muslim for a religious, educational or charitable purpose.

In 2010, ASI had petitioned the court against the wakf board’s July 2005 decision ordering that the Taj be registered as the latter’s property. There is a stay on the order.

CJI Dipak Misra posed a few questions to Board,“How did he (Shah Jahan) sign the wakfnama? He was in jail and used to view the monument while in custody”.

SC Bench pointed out to the Board that 17th century monument and other heritage structures built by Mughals passed on to the British after the end of the Mughal rule. After Independence, the monuments vested with the government and were being managed by ASI.

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