MUMBAI, Feb. 27 -- Citing security concerns and frequent VVIP movement at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), the Maharashtra government on Thursday informed the Bombay High Court that taxi and autorickshaw drivers cannot be permitted to offer namaz at a temporary shed within the airport premises. A division bench of Justices BP Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla then directed the state and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to identify an alternative site in the vicinity of the airport where drivers could offer namaz during Ramzan. The direction comes in the backdrop of the demolition of a prayer shed near the airport earlier this year. The court was hearing a petition filed by the Taxi-Rickshaw Ola-Uber Men's Union, which sought protection of what it termed the "fundamental rights of thousands of devotees." The petition claimed that thousands of drivers have been left without a place to offer prayers following the demolition of the structure. According to the petition, a prayer facility had existed for nearly 30 years within the airport's periphery. It was relocated in 2020 when the airport was operated by the GVK Group, and later demolished in April 2025 by MMRDA. The demolition, the union alleged, was carried out "arbitrarily and without giving any notice". The union argued that the prayer hall could not be termed unauthorised "in any realm of legality". The government pleader, Jyoti Chavan, opposed the plea, saying the airport is a high-security zone where unauthorised structures cannot be allowed. The court said security must come first but asked the state to explore a temporary Ramzan arrangement. The matter is posted for hearing on March 5....