New Delhi: The Supreme Court today (Oct 7, 2004) deferred permission for moonlit night viewing of the world heritage marble monument 'Taj Mahal' and sought a full proposal giving details of the mode of implementation of the security and environment strategy devised by all concerned.

A Bench comprising Justice Ruma Pal, Justice S B Sinha and Justice S H Kapadia asked the Uttar Pradesh Government, which has sought permission for the night viewing of the 17th century Mughal monument of love, to file a comprehensive implementation plan to put in place the suggestions of the security agency and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Both the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which is in-charge of the safety of the monument at Agra, and ASI, which is responsible for its conservation, had pulled their weight behind the Uttar Pradesh Government proposal to allow only 400 visitors on moonlit nights, which would be three nights in a lunar calendar.

While the CISF wanted x-ray machines to be installed at the entry points of the monuments, the ASI said that it agreed with the proposal to allow 400 visitors in groups of 50 for 30 minutes per group.

Appearing for the State Government, senior advocate Ashok Desai detailed the restrictions imposed on the night viewing including no illumination of the monument, no use of generator sets, use of battery-operated vehicles to transport tourists, no electronic gadgets except cameras and binoculars.

Both the CISF and ASI supported the plan, but with the x-ray machines not being installed and the proposals yet to be put in the implementation mode, the Court deferred permission to allow night viewing.