SC notice to Centre, ASI on Microsoft event at Taj

The Supreme Court today issued a notice to the central government and the Archaeological Survey of India on a petition against Microsoft for violation of environmental norms.

The US software giant had, on January 30 this year, organised a dance event in the courtyard of the Taj Mahal in Agra that featured dancers at the roll out of the retail version of Windows Vista, its latest computer operating system.

A bench headed by Justice S B Sinha has asked the parties in question to respond to the petition by next Monday when the issue will be taken up again.

The event apparently violated a Supreme Court order that says that no event that is likely to cause damage to the historical monument may be held within a 500 metre radius of its boundary wall.

The SC issued the order in 1998, when a public interest litigation was filed against a concert by Yanni that was held with the Taj as the backdrop. The Ancient Monuments Act bars any activity within 300 metres of any nationally protected monument.