SC stays order to demolish Taj parking

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday stayed it’s October 24 order directing the demolition of the parking lot surrounding the Taj Mahal in Agra in four weeks. The court also asked UP to spell out a comprehensive policy to protect the monument.

The Supreme Court on Friday stayed it’s October 24 order directing demolition of the existing parking lot surrounding the world heritage monument Taj Mahal in Agra in four weeks.

A bench of justices Madan B. Lokur and Deepak Gupta while ordering status quo on its earlier order as well as on fresh construction asked the UP government to spell out a comprehensive policy to protect the monument.

The bench restored the application seeking permission for construction of a multi-level car parking lot. This would be heard after a comprehensive policy is submitted by the government, said the bench.

On October 24, the court passed an interim for demolition of the parking lot, on an application from M.C. Mehta, advocate and environmentalist alleging that UP had not obtained environmental clearances. On Friday, additional solicitor general Tushar Mehta for the UP government along with additional advocate general Aishwarya Bhati pleaded for the stay of the earlier order pointing out that permission had been sought.

It posted the matter for further hearing on November 15.