The Bombay High Court has rejected a petition seeking permission to offer namaz at Mumbai’s airport during Ramadan, stating that prayers cannot be allowed at locations that pose a security risk.
The petition was filed by the Taxi Rickshaw, Ola and Uber Association before the Bombay High Court. The organisation requested the reconstruction of a small shed that previously existed near Terminal One of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai or the allocation of approximately 1,500 square feet of space for the entire month of Ramadan.
According to the petitioners, the shed had served as a place for drivers to offer namaz for around 30 years. In April 2025, the structure was demolished by the Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), after which drivers began facing difficulty in offering prayers.
A bench of Justice BP Colabawalla and Justice Firdous Pooniwalla told the petitioners that individuals cannot determine prayer locations on their own. The bench said that the petitioners were currently seeking space within the airport premises and could later make similar demands for other locations such as Oval Maidan.
The court stated that offering namaz at any particular place cannot be treated as a religious right when security concerns are involved.
The court noted that travellers from all religions use the airport and that security considerations take precedence. It stated that prayers cannot be permitted at any location unless security can be ensured.
The bench said that regardless of religion, security remains the primary consideration and cannot be compromised.
Counsel for the petitioners, Shahzad Naqvi and SB Talekar, argued that the location had previously been designated by authorities and that there had never been any security lapse. They also informed the court that a temple had recently been constructed nearby.
Representing the state government, government lawyer Jyoti Chauhan said the domestic terminal of the airport is a high-security and crowded area where there is frequent movement of VVIPs. Because of this, no unauthorised structure can be permitted.
Senior advocate Vikram Nankani, appearing for Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIL), said the demolished shed had been located near a VIP entry gate and could pose a security risk. He added that several mosques exist within the airport area where drivers can offer namaz.
The Bombay High Court observed that Ramadan is an important part of the Islamic faith, but this does not mean that followers can claim the right to offer namaz at any location.
The court said the petitioners may submit a memorandum to airport authorities so that the matter can be considered in the future.
In an earlier hearing, the court had directed authorities to examine whether any alternative location could be allocated to the petitioners. Authorities submitted a report stating that several potential locations had been examined, but none were found suitable due to crowding, security concerns and ongoing development projects.
