The Taj Mahotsav -- a grand festival marking the 350th year of Taj Mahal -- ran into rough weather on Monday when the Supreme Court said it cannot permit the Uttar Pradesh government to go ahead with the celebrations near the World Heritage monument without the Archaeological Survey of India and security agencies giving their clearance.
A bench comprising Justice Ruma Pal, Justice S B Sinha and Justice S H Kapadia criticised the state government for
coming to the Supreme Court with applications bereft of any details on the security
arrangements for the celebrations and the possible environmental impact.
The state had sought permission "to organise cultural programmes to celebrate the occasion of completion of 350 years of Taj Mahal, on the banks of river Yamuna behind Taj Mahal and adjacent to Mehtab Bagh on and around full moon
nights in the coming six months commencing September 27."
The bench has issued notices to the Centre and ASI and asked the counsel appearing for the Union Environment Ministry to ascertain the views of the home ministry on the security concerns.