India, July 6 -- The Allahabad High Court directed the Centre and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to file their counter-affidavits on a petition seeking a declaration that the Agreshwar Mahadev Nagnatheswar Virajman Tejo Mahalaya temple exists within the Taj Mahal complex.

Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal passed the order while hearing a writ petition filed by the Agreshwar Mahadev Nagnatheswar Virajman Tejo Mahalaya temple, along with petitioner Hari Shankar Jain and four others. The court also issued a notice to respondent Pankaj Kumar Verma and listed the matter for further proceedings after the responses are filed.

The petition challenges the decisions of the Agra district courts, which had rejected an application seeking the a...