Maharashtra Govt Flags Security Risk In Allowing Muslim Cab Drivers To Offer Namaz Near Airport; High Court Calls For Alternate Arrangement

The Maharashtra Government on Thursday informed the Bombay High Court that it cannot permit Autorickshaw-Taxi and Ola-Uber cab drivers to offer Namaz at a temporary shed in the vicinity of the Domestic Terminal of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), even for the ongoing holy month of Ramadan, due to 'security' reasons.

A division bench of Justice Burgess Colabawalla and Justice Firdosh Pooniwalla however, asked the State as well as the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to identify a site in the vicinity so that the drivers and also the passengers, can offer Namaz at least for the ongoing month of Ramadan. 

On a previous hearing, the bench had asked the MMRDA to consider on humanitarian grounds, the prayers of the petitioner - Auto-Taxi, Ola-Uber Men's Union, to offer Namaz at a temporary shed, which was demolished in April 2025, where Muslim drivers and even hotel staff, offered Namaz regularly.

When the matter was called out for hearing, MMRDA's counsel Akshay Shinde informed the judges about the apprehension of the local police about the site in question, which is near Gate 9 - a VIP entry/exit point. 

Additional Government Pleader Jyoti Chavan for the State informed the judges that there is 'threat perception' and security management issues too may arise and thus the demand to offer Namaz at the site in question, cannot be fulfilled. 

She said, "This is a high-security area... Police has to manage security of the airport and the nearby areas... As per the petitioners' itself, there is a footfall of 1500 to 2000 persons to offer Namaz five times a day... With such huge numbers, it would be difficult for the Police to maintain security at the site five times... When will we look at the security of the airport then."

Weighing in, senior Advocate Vikram Nankani for Adani Airport Holdings, which is now responsible for managing the operations of the CSMIA, told the judges that the site is near the VIP entry/exit point. He informed the judges that there are three different mosques which are nearby the site in question and could be reached within minutes of walking. 

"While one mosque is at a distance of 1 km and can be reached within 13 minutes of walking, the other is at a distance of 1.3 km and it will take at least 18 minutes only to reach there by walking. The third one is a bit far around 3 kms to 4 kms... But all the three mosques are functional," Nankani submitted. 

Chavan intervened highlighting that the airport authorities already keep getting threats throughout the year and then permitting the drivers to offer Namaz would not be feasible. 

"We cannot even tell what kinds of threats we receive throughout the year... And amid all this, if thousands of people will visit besides the regular movement of passengers and VIPs, it would be difficult to manage the security... Thus, we cannot permit them," Chavan told the judges. 

Having heard the contentions, Justice Colabawalla clarified, "See if any other area can be identified where they can offer Namaz, so the problem is sorted out once and for all. Only during Ramzan, they'll be allowed to offer Namaz and once Ramadan is over, the property could be demolished and be restored to the same prior to it."

At this, Chavan responded, "If there is a mosque at walking distance, they can go there... anyways they have their own cabs they can use that... Court must consider the security issues too."

To this, Justice Colabawalla said, "This is not an adversarial petition. As a State, we are asking you to examine an area where security is not a problem. We are not suggesting you to compromise on the security."

The judges therefore, adjourned till March 5, for the MMRDA and the State to identify a site after examining the security issues and permit the drivers etc to offer Namaz within the CMISA vicinity. 

The petitioner union had petitioned the bench through their advocate Shehzad Naqvi. This shed, the union claimed has been in the periphery of the airport since 1995 but was demolished suddenly by the MMRDA on April 5, 2025, allegedly on Mishra's complaint. The MMRDA, however, contended that its officials acted only after some complaint were received against the 'illegally' constructed shed.