Supreme Court Dismisses Plea To Declare Agra As 'World Heritage Site'

The Supreme Court on Friday (September 13) dismissed an application seeking to declare the city of Agra as a "World Heritage Site."

A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih observed that the Court cannot pass any direction to declare any place as a heritage site.

The counsel for the applicant submitted that a nomination has to be made to UNESCO for "World Heritage Site" status. He claimed that such a declaration would create jobs, and promote sustainable tourism, cleanliness and economic growth.

However, the bench said that it cannot grant any such relief.

"These are all fanciful claims. We have to concentrate on implementation of orders which are passed," Justice Oka said, pointing out that the Court is already monitoring the Taj Mahal.

"There is nothing is placed on record to show that by declaring Agra as World Heritage Site there will be any special advantage to the city. Moreover, we don't think that this Court can grant a declaration as prayed that Agra is heritage site. Application is rejected," the bench observed in the order.

"Even now for example, in a lighter vein, there are smart cities in our country that are hardly smart. So what is the use of this declaration as World Heritage City", Justice Oka remarked.

The application was filed in the MC Mehta case where the Court has passed directions to monitor the development in the Taj Trapezium Zone.