The Supreme Court Monday asked the Indian government to explain if global IT major Microsoft's Windows Vista launch function in the backdrop of the Taj Mahal this year violated norms and laws regarding heritage monuments.

A bench headed by Justice S.B. Sinha asked the government and the Archaeological Survey of India to reply within a week, providing details of the event and identifying the government agency that granted the permission for the event.

Vijay Punjwani, a lawyer, brought the matter to the court's notice, alleging in a petition that the IT giant's Jan 30 event violated the apex court's order banning such performances within 500 metres of the boundary wall of the monument.

He said such activities were also prohibited by the Ancient Monuments Act.

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