Declare Ram Setu As A 'National Monument', Erect Wall At Site To Enable Its 'Darshan' For 'Moksha': Plea In Supreme Court

A plea has been moved before the Supreme Court seeking the construction of a wall at the Ram Setu site 'in the sea' for a few meters/kilometers to enable its 'Darshan' by all living creatures of God on the ground that its darshan guarantees Moksha.

The plea, which has been filed as a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution of India through Lucknow-based advocate Ashok Pandey, also prays to declare Ram Setu as a national monument as defined in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.

The plea argues that by not enabling the managing of the Darshan of Ram Setu, the government is violating the fundamental rights guaranteed by articles 14, 21, and 25 of the constitution. It adds that starting Darshan and Pooja at the site is necessary so that no devil will dare to plan its destruction.

It may be noted that Ram Setu is a bridge that is a chain of limestone shoals, off the south-eastern coast of Tamil Nadu. It runs from Pamban Island near Rameshwaram in South India to Mannar Island, off the northern coast of Sri Lanka. The bridge is mentioned in the epic Ramayana as constructed by Lord Ram to reach Sri Lanka to rescue Sita.

The Plea also avers that the construction of the wall will fulfill the desire of crores of persons to 'walk, sit and sleep' on the bridge through which Ram, along with his army went to Lanka to kill Rawan and to establish Ram Rajya in (Sri) Lanka.

Underscoring the importance of Ram Setu, the plea states that it is very pious for the Hindus as the Ramayana, Sri Ramcharitmanas and Purans (Skanda Puran, Vishnu Puran, Agni Puran, and Bramha Puran) describe, in detail, about the importance of taking Snan( Holy bath) in Setu area.

Significantly, the Plea argues that the ruling government at the Centre claims to be working to bring Ram Rajya, however, the plea adds, it is not possible unless the Darshan of Sri Ram Setu is managed by erecting some wall.

"Erecting of some wall is possible as only 4 to 40 feet water is there on the said Setu from start to end. The request is that by the side of the Setu, some wall should be erected so that the bridge may come in open for its Darsan by the people. In case this Setu comes in open, It will give the way to the people across the world to come to Dhanuskoti ( Rameshwaram) for the Darshan of the bridge constructed under the orders of Lord Ram," the plea states.

Further, the plea submits that by taking steps for managing the Darshan of Ram Setu will invite tourists from all over the world as people will get to see that Setu which was constructed under the orders of Sri Ram by Nal and Neel only in four days by the use of trees and stones and which is still existing from the time immemorial.

"The religious people will come to see it as it is the creation of GOD itself and mere a holy dip in this area and the Darsan of this bridge guarantees Mokshha as per Lord Ram himself and the lovers will come to see it as it is 'Symbol of Love' between Ram and Sita," the plea states.

The plea heavily criticizes the previous UPA Government, which ruled the Country between 2004-2014, claiming that it made several attempts to destroy Ram Setu by flagging of the dredging machine for its destruction.

It may be noted that a plea, move by Rajya Sabha MP Dr Subramanian Swamy, seeking National Heritage Status for the 'Ram Setu' is currently pending before the Supreme Court of India

In January this year, the Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta informed the Supreme Court that the process to consider national heritage status for 'Ram Setu' is underway in the Ministry of Culture.

The issue seeking the declaration of the Ram Setu as a 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.