The Bombay High Court on Friday directed the Secretary of the Cultural Affairs Ministry of the Maharashtra Government to take an expedited decision—preferably the same day—on a representation seeking permission to perform Namaaz at Mumbai’s August Kranti Maidan.

A vacation bench of Justices Dr Neela Gokhale and Manjusha Deshpande was hearing a petition filed by Umer Abdul Jabbar Gopalani, who had challenged an order by the Gamdevi Police Station refusing permission for the mass prayer gathering.

The police had denied the request citing potential traffic disruptions and law and order concerns related to the use of a public space for a religious event.

Gopalani argued that Namaaz has been performed at the site for nearly five decades without any incident, and pointed to permissions granted by the Traffic Police and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in prior years. However, Chief Public Prosecutor Hiten Venegavkar clarified that both the Traffic Police and BMC had only issued conditional approvals pending compliance by the petitioner.

During the hearing, Justice Gokhale referred to a 2006 High Court order which held that the authority to grant permission for the use of August Kranti Maidan—a protected monument—rests with the Secretary of the Cultural Affairs and Social Justice Ministry.

In light of this, the Court allowed the petitioner to amend the plea to include the appropriate authority and directed the Secretary to consider the representation without delay, ideally by the end of the day.

The petition was accordingly disposed of with these directions.