India, March 6 -- The Bombay High Court on Thursday refused to allow taxi and autorickshaw drivers to offer namaaz under a temporary shed near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport during the month of Ramazan. The court cited serious security concerns and space restraints in the vicinity of the airport. .

A division bench of justices BP Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla said that the airport's security cannot be compromised "even a bit", stressing that thousands of passengers from all communities use the airport and their safety is more important than any religious or other considerations.

The court was responding to a petition filed by Taxi-Rickshaw Ola-Uber Men's Union on January 19, to "protect the fundamental rights...