Mumbai, June 6 (UNI) The Bombay High Court on Friday asked the secretary of the Cultural Affairs Ministry, government of Maharashtra, to decide on an application seeking permission to hold annual Bakr Eid namaaz at Mumbai’s historic August Kranti Maidan.

A vacation bench of justices Neela Gokhale and Manjusha Deshpande gave direction in response to a petition moved by Umer Abdul Jabbar Gopalani, challenging the local Gamdevi police decision refusing to grant permission, citing law and order and traffic congestion issues.

In his petition Goplani said the fire and traffic departments had granted an NOC whereas the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has asked it to get another NOC from the directorate of archaeology and museum; and thereafter it said it will consider the application.

He also argued that the namaz has been performed at the Maidan for over 50 years without any incidents and if the permission is granted to the petitioner, the petitioner will take all necessary precautions to avoid law and order situation.

The state government represented by public prosecutor Hiten Venegaonkar objected and clarified that both agencies had only issued conditional clearances.

He also said that the police’s decision was based partly on the refusal of permission in 2024.

However, the petitioner argued that no valid reason had been provided in last year’s refusal and that precedent alone could not justify rejection in 2025.

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