Centre Should Say If They Support National Heritage Status For Ram Setu, Subramanian Swamy Tells Supreme Court

The Supreme Court, on Monday, adjourned the plea filed by Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Subramanian Swamy seeking directions to the Centre for declaring Ram Setu as a national heritage monument.

The issue of declaring Ram Setu as a National Heritage monument was raised by Dr Swamy, in his plea filed in 2007 against Sethusamudram Ship Channel project for protection of Ram Setu. Under the Sethusamudram project, an 83-km-long deep water channel was to be created, linking Mannar with Palk Strait, by extensive dredging and removal of the limestone shoals which constitute the mythological Sethu.

A Bench comprising Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and A.S. Bopanna noted that the decision regarding the grant of National heritage status is the prerogative of the executive. However, Dr. Swamy apprised the Bench that the Central Government has been dilly dallying on the pretext that the Apex Court is in seisin of the matter. The Bench stated that the matter had been assigned to it only a few days back and therefore it would need some time to go through the hefty documents. In the interim, Dr. Swamy sought the Court's indulgence to ask the Central Government to file its counter affidavit in the matter and take a stand. He added that if the Centre is opposing his petition, then they should clearly indicate the same.

"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", Swamy, appearing as party-in-person, submitted.

Solicitor General, Mr. Tushar Mehta submitted that he would review the documents and get back in this regard.

As the Bench adjourned the matter, Dr. Swamy stated that it should be ensured that the matter is not deleted from the causelist by the Registry. On a lighter vein, the Bench noted that Dr. Swamy is aware of the nitty gritty of the functioning of the Apex Court, especially the issue regarding deletion of cases by the Registry.

Last week, Dr. Swamy had mentioned the plea before the Bench led by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud seeking urgent listing. Justice Chandrachud had informed him that he would consult with the other members of the concerned Bench and take a call as to when the matter can be next listed. Earlier, the same day, when Mr. Swamy had approached the Bench led by the Chief Justice of India, N.V. Ramana seeking early listing, he was asked to mention it before Justice Chandrachud.

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 South India to Mannar Island, off the northern coast of Sri Lanka. The bridge is mentioned in the epic Ramayana to have been constructed by Lord Ram to reach Sri Lanka to rescue Sita.

The Supreme Court had in January 2020 observed that it will consider Dr Swamy's Ram Sethu plea, but had asked him to mention it after three months owing to the pendency of cases before it. Thereafter, the matter was mentioned a number of times till it was finally mentioned before the Bench led by Justice Chandrachud and listed for hearing.

[Case Title: Dr. Subramanian Swamy v. Union of India And Ors .T.C.(C) No. 27/2007]