Security at airport takes precedence over devotional right, says Bombay HC on namaz plea

In an observation, the Bombay High Court on Thursday (March 5, 2026) underscored that national security concerns outweigh individual religious practices, dismissing a plea by a group of cab and auto-rickshaw drivers who sought to offer namaz near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport during the ongoing month of Ramzan.

A Division Bench of Justice B. P. Colabawalla and Justice Firdosh Pooniwalla categorically stated that while Ramzan holds religious significance for the Muslim community, it does not confer upon its followers an inherent right to offer prayers at a location of their choosing, particularly when such a site poses a potential threat to the security apparatus of a sensitive installation like an airport.