Supreme Court Rejects Plea to Declare Agra a 'Heritage City'

The Supreme Court dismissed a plea to declare Agra a 'heritage city,' citing a lack of evidence to prove the declaration would benefit the city. The bench questioned the practical advantages of such a status and reiterated that the court couldn't make such a declaration. The application was dismissed.

The Supreme Court has dismissed a plea seeking to designate Agra as a 'heritage city,' asserting that no evidence has been presented to demonstrate any particular benefit from such a declaration.

The plea was part of a 1984 public interest litigation aimed at protecting the Taj Mahal and its surrounding areas. A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan issued the dismissal order, stating, 'Nothing has been placed on record to show that there will be any special advantage to the city. Moreover, this court cannot grant any such declaration.'

During the hearing, the bench inquired about the tangible benefits and legislative provisions linked to declaring a city a 'heritage city.' The counsel argued that Agra, with its rich 1,000-year history and numerous historic monuments, needed such a status to boost tourism and employment. However, Justice Oka remarked that similar designations, like 'smart city,' had yielded no significant benefits, rendering the application futile.

(With inputs from agencies.)