India, July 7 -- The Allahabad High Court has agreed to examine a petition claiming that the Taj Mahal in Agra houses a "Tejo Mahalaya" temple beneath its structure, reviving a long-running legal dispute over the origins of the Mughal-era monument.

Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal on Monday issued notices to the Centre, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and other respondents, observing that the matter warrants consideration under Article 227 of the Constitution.

Petition seeks scientific survey

The petitioners, represented by senior advocate Hari Shankar Jain, argued that the historical character of the Taj Mahal cannot be conclusively determined without a comprehensive scientific and physical survey of the monument.

The Centre and...