New Delhi, July 16: The media today got a pat on the back from the Supreme Court for reporting extensively on the illegal manner in which the work of multi-crore Taj heritage corridor project was carried out at Agra without statutory clearances violating even orders of the apex court.
A bench comprising Justice M B Shah and Justice A R
Lakshmanan, while ordering CBI probe into irregularities and
illegalities of the project work, said it was on the basis of
media reports that the central government officials woke up
and stopped the work that could have endangered the world
heritage 17th century Mughal monument Taj Mahal.
"Newspaper reports drew the attention of concerned
authorities," the bench said.
"It appears that because of numerous reports in the
newspapers, attention of various authorities was drawn to the
illegalities and irregularities that was going on," it said.
"Thereafter, the Union government intervened in the said
project and stopped further construction," the bench said
taking note of the efforts made by Union Tourism and Culture
Minister Jagmohan.
Jagmohan went personally to the site of construction of
the heritage corridor and held detailed meeting with the
chief secretary of the state government before ordering
stoppage of work.
Bureau Report
