Do you want to destroy the Taj Mahal? SC to government

New Delhi: Supreme Court, on Thursday, asked the Centre whether it wants to destroy the beauty of the world famous Taj Mahal.

SC questioned the government while hearing an application seeking its nod to cut over 400 trees to lay down an additional railway track between Mathura in Uttar Pradesh to Delhi.

"This (Taj Mahal) is a world famous monument and you (government) want to destroy it? Have you seen the recent pictures of Taj? Go to the internet and have a look at it," a bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said.

"If you want, then file an affidavit or application and say that the Union of India wants to destroy the Taj," the bench said.

The application said that a construction of an additional railway track between Mathura and Delhi has become a necessity and in order to clear the bottleneck of train movement, around 450 trees need to be cut down.

The court would hear the matter next month.

A petition was filed by environmentalist M C Mehta seeking protection of the Taj from the ill effects of polluting gases and deforestation in and around the area.