The ASI or Archeological Survey of India, which is in charge of maintaining and repairing monuments, was rebuked by the court for failing to protect the Taj Mahal from discolouring and said: "The problem is that ASI is not willing to accept that there is a problem. This situation would not have arisen if the ASI had done its job."
The court also suggested to the centre that it should consider whether the ASI is needed at all for the world-renowned white marble mausoleum.
"The floor in parts of the Taj is dirty because of people walking there. We don't give socks to everyone, only VIPs, the rest go in their own socks," said the archeological body.
The government suggested disposable socks, the kind provided to people visiting monuments abroad.
In a tart exchange with the judges, the ASI said algae were a "big problem" at the monument built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal.
"But how has algae reached the top parts?" the court wondered.
"It flew there," replied the archeological survey, after which the court countered: "Can algae fly?"