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Key Points

The Supreme Court has issued notice on BJP leader Subramanian Swamy's plea to declare Ram Setu a national monument. The bench sought responses from the Union Culture Ministry and Archaeological Survey of India officials. Swamy's petition argues for protecting the site due to its religious and historical importance. This latest legal move follows previous court proceedings and government inaction on the matter.

Key Points: Supreme Court Issues Notice on Subramanian Swamy Ram Setu Plea

  • SC bench seeks responses from Culture Ministry and ASI on monument status
  • Swamy seeks detailed geological and archaeological survey of the site
  • Ram Setu holds significance in Indian mythology as Lord Rama's bridge
  • Case follows UPA's 2007 Sethusamudram project that proposed dredging the area
2 min read

SC issues notice on plea to declare 'Ram Setu' a national monument

SC seeks government response on BJP leader Subramanian Swamy's plea to declare Ram Setu a national monument, citing religious and historical significance.

"Urging the apex court to direct the Centre to take a time-bound decision - Subramanian Swamy's PIL"

New Delhi, Aug 29

The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice on a plea filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy seeking a direction to the Union government, to decide, in an expeditious manner, his representation for declaring ‘Ram Setu’ a monument of national importance.

Issuing notice, a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta sought responses from the Union Ministry of Culture, the Director of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and the Tamil Nadu Regional Director of the ASI in the matter.

Earlier, Swamy had filed a plea before the apex court seeking a direction to the Union government to engage the Geological Survey of India as well as the Archaeological Survey of India to conduct a detailed survey of the site and to ensure its protection, recognising it as a site of religious and historical significance.

In January 2023, the Supreme Court had disposed of Swamy’s application, allowing him liberty to submit additional material. However, according to the latest writ petition, no decision or action has yet been communicated by the Union government.

Following a fresh representation to the Union Minister of Culture on May 13, Swamy has now filed this Public Interest Litigation (PIL), urging the apex court to direct the Centre to take a time-bound decision and comply with the previous orders to safeguard the site.

Senior advocate Vibha Datta Makhija, assisted by advocate Satya Sabharwal, represented Swamy before the apex court.

Ram Setu, which is also known as Adam's Bridge, is a chain of limestone shoals between Pamban Island or Rameswaram Island, off the south-eastern coast of Tamil Nadu, and Mannar Island, off the north-western coast of Sri Lanka.

According to Indian mythology, the bridge was believed to have been constructed by Lord Rama with the help of his allies to cross over to Sri Lanka.

The UPA government, in 2007, had proposed the Sethusamudram project, under which an 83-km-long deep-water channel was to be made by extensive dredging and removal of the limestone shoals, to link Mannar with the Palk Strait. After interim directions were issued by the Supreme Court on Swamy’s petition, the government resorted to another plan to link Mannar with the Palk Strait.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priyanka N
While I respect the religious sentiments, I hope the government conducts proper scientific surveys first. We need to balance faith with factual evidence.
A
Arun Y
This has been pending for too long. The government should have taken a decision much earlier. Ram Setu represents our ancient civilization's engineering marvel and deserves protection.
S
Sarah B
As someone interested in archaeology, I think this could be a great opportunity for proper research. Whether mythological or natural, it's a significant structure that needs preservation.
V
Vikram M
The Sethusamudram project would have destroyed this ancient structure. Thank God the Supreme Court intervened. Our heritage is more important than shipping channels.
N
Nikhil C
Hope this doesn't become another political tool. The focus should be on preservation and research, not scoring political points. Let the experts do their work properly.

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