The Supreme Court on Thursday questioned the Government over the degradation of the iconic Taj Mahal and wondered if the Centre was bent on destroying this protected monument.
Passing scathing observations against the Government, the Bench of Justices Madan B lokur and Deepak Gupta remarked, ""This (Taj Mahal) is a world famous monument and you (government) want to destroy itIJ Have you seen the recent pictures of TajIJ Go to the internet and have a look at it."
Unsparing towards the Centre for failing to preserve the monument which is protected under the Ancient Monuments Act with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)directly responsible for its upkeep, the bench sarcastically remarked, "If you want, then file an affidavit or application and say that the Union of India wants to destroy the Taj."
The comments came when the Bench was dealing with an application seeking its nod to cut over 400 trees for laying an additional railway track between Delhi and Mathura.