Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court on Friday rejected the plea to declare several historical monuments, including the Taj Mahal, as world heritage sites. The court rejected the demand to declare Agra as a heritage city. The Supreme Court said that there is nothing in the petition on the basis of which such a decision can be taken. There is nothing in it to suggest that the city would benefit from such an announcement.
A bench of Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih of the Supreme Court gave its judgment on this petition. Dismissing the plea, the bench said how can a city be declared a World Heritage Site? The court said that the petitioner has to state that where is the provision to declare the World Heritage Site?
Court cannot grant such permission
The bench had dismissed a PIL filed in 1984 regarding the security and protection of the Taj Mahal and its surroundings. The bench, in its order, said, ‘Nothing has been shown in the petition to show that the city will get any special benefit from this. This Court cannot allow such disclosure. The application is rejected.
This is a futile exercise – Justice Oka
The court asked the counsel for the petitioners what would benefit the city if it gets the heritage city status. What is the provision under law for such a declaration? The bench asked whether the city would become cleaner after being declared a World Heritage Site. At the same time, the counsel for the petitioners said that Agra needs to be declared as a heritage city. Because it has a history of 1,000 years.
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He said that the city of Agra is many years old. There are many historical heritages here which need to be preserved. Declaring Agra a heritage city will boost tourism and preserve the area. Also, Justice Oka said that what will be the benefit of declaring Agra as a heritage city? Will Agra become clean? If this does not help, it is a futile exercise.
