Ban on night viewing of Taj goes

India's Supreme Court on Thursday lifted a 20-year ban on night viewing of the Taj Mahal with some conditions.

A three-member bench of the apex court said the permission to watch the monument on moonlit nights is initially being given for three months.

The court said only 400 people would be allowed to visit the Taj Mahal between 2030 hours and 00030 hours every night five times a monththe full moon night and two nights prior and two nights after the full moon night.

The court made it clear that none, howsoever high he might be, would be permitted to go to the red sand stone platform for night-viewing of the Taj without purchasing a ticket.

Even the VVIPs would have to get off from their cars 500 metres away from the Taj and battery-operated vehicles alone would be to carry viewers who would be allowed to carry only still camera and binoculars after a thorough check, said the bench comprising Justice Ruma Pal, Justice S B Sinha and Justice S H Kapadia.