MUMBAI — The Bombay High Court on Thursday, March 5, 2026, dismissed a plea from taxi and auto-rickshaw unions seeking a designated spot to offer namaz near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA). A division bench of Justices B. P. Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla ruled that while religious practices are significant, they do not grant an absolute right to occupy specific public spaces, particularly in high-security zones like airports.
The petition, filed by the Taxi-Rickshaw Ola-Uber Men’s Union, sought permission to use a site where a temporary prayer shed had been demolished by authorities last year. With the holy month of Ramzan currently underway, the drivers requested either the restoration of the old site or the allotment of a new area nearby. However, after reviewing a report from airport authorities and the police—who surveyed seven potential sites—the court found that all were unsuitable due to congestion, airport development plans, and severe security constraints.
“There is no question of getting a structure near the airport. Religion or otherwise—security comes first,” the bench emphasized. The court noted that safety at an international transit hub is a universal concern that transcends individual religious rights. The judges further pointed out that a madrassa is available within one kilometre of the airport, suggesting that the drivers utilize existing religious infrastructure rather than expecting a dedicated prayer zone in a restricted area.
While the court refused immediate relief, it acknowledged the essential service provided by transport workers to Mumbai’s passengers. The bench suggested the petitioners submit a representation for a permanent prayer space to be considered during the future redevelopment of Terminal 1. For now, however, the court maintained that it would not “throw caution to the wind” regarding the safety of the millions of travellers using the facility.
