Recently, the Supreme Court of India refused to entertain a plea that the city of Agra be declared a World Heritage site. Agra is the city with the famous Taj Mahal and many other historical monuments. PIL was filed by Advocate and Environmentalist M.C. Mehta. The plea said that with a heritage which is very rich, both in history and culture, along with globally recognized monuments, Agra needs to be accorded the status of a 'World Heritage' site by UNESCO.Background of the Plea The petition, filed many years ago, had sought intervention by the judiciary to save Agra's ecological and cultural heritage. M.C. Mehta, through his plea, had apprised the court that uncontrolled construction and pollution were devouring the architectural and historical charm of the Taj Mahal and monuments in Agra. Declaring Agra as a World Heritage site would definitely bring in more stringent environmental regulations and better conservation, he had contended. Mehta's plea also highlighted that while Taj Mahal was already a UNESCO World Heritage site, the city itself, with all the historical structures including its own cultural importance, needed to be declared as such. The petitioner, therefore, contended that such a declaration would ensure better tourism not only for Agra but globally, and conservation of its heritage. Supreme Court Judgment The plea was dismissed by a Supreme Court bench, presided over by the Chief Justice of India, on the ground that declaring a site as a World Heritage site falls within the authority of UNESCO and the Indian government. It pointed out that it had no authority to make such declaration but, more importantly, the nature of such declaration entailed international procedures and considerations outside the mandate of the judiciary. The bench added that most steps had been taken to preserve the Taj Mahal and surroundings. For instance, the making of Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ), the 10,400 sq km area around the monument is regulated to contain pollution and industrial activities that can damage the Taj. The court said the existing regulatory mechanisms, if properly implemented, would be adequate to protect the monument and the heritage at Agra. While discarding the petition, the court did acknowledge environmental issues that beset Agra, such as pollution caused by industries, vehicular traffic, and unplanned construction. However, it said that further regulation and monitoring of these issues are now beyond the courts of law, into the domain of the central and state government. It urged that the government should take all possible measures to ensure eco-friendly sustainability of the city as well as preserve the culture of the city. Dismissing the plea, the Supreme Court had indicated that international designations, like UNESCO World Heritage sites, were beyond the powers of the judiciary to get involved in. Though it may have looked like a loss for conservation, it was yet another reminder from the court that the environment did need regulations, and asked the government to keep up the protection of Agra's heritage so replete with culture.