Supreme Court Directs Centre To File Reply To Subramanian Swamy's Plea Seeking National Heritage Status For Ram Setu

The Supreme Court bench of Justices D. Y. Chandrachud and Hima Kohli today directed the Centre to file a counter affidavit to the petition filed by Rajya Sabha MP Dr.Subramanian Swamy seeking  the status of National Heritage for Ram Setu.

Dr. Swamy, appearing as party-in-person, submitted that, "For the last 8 years the matter has been coming up, the Union of India has failed to file the affidavit in the matter." 

The bench asked the Centre to file its reply. Additional Solicitor General Madhavi Divan appeared for the Centre.

The bench also allowed Swamy to file his written submissions and adjourned the matter.

On the previous hearing date as well, Dr.Swamy had said that the Centre was not taking a stand in the matter.

"They(GoI) should file an affidavit and say when they will decide. It has been going on and on. They should file a counter. If they are opposing they have to say so. Otherwise they are supporting, there is no other way", he had submitted on the last hearing date.

The issue seeking declaration of the Ram Setu as National Heritage was raised by Swamy in his 2007 plea against the Sethu Samundram Ship Channel project. 

Under the Setu samundram project an 83 km long channel was to be created linking Mannar and Palk Strait by extensive dredging. The project was alleged to have an impact on the Ram Setu.

The matter has been earlier mentioned by Dr. Swamy on a number of occasions the last being on 17th August 2022 before a bench led by Justice Chandrachud. He informed Swamy that he would consult with the other members of the bench and take a call as to when the matter can next be listed.

Ram Setu is a bridge which is a chain of limestone shoals, off the south-eastern coast of Tamil Nadu. It runs from Pamban Island near Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu to Mannar Island, off the northern coast of Sri Lanka. The bridge has found mention in the Ramayana where it is state to have been constructed by Lord Rama to reach Lanka in order to save Sita.