‘Ram Setu’ national monument plea: SC allows time to Union govt to file response

• Modi government came under criticism after the apex court in November questioned it over “dragging its feet”
• The court in November granted the Union government time till December 12 to file its response to BJP leader Subramanian Swamy’s plea
• The apex court in August had given the Union government eight weeks to submit its affidavit and clarify its stand

The Supreme Court on Thursday granted the Union government more time to file its response to BJP leader Subramanian Swamy’s petition seeking the “national monument” status for Ram Setu.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for the Centre said the affidavit is under preparation and urged the court to fix the matter sometime in the first week of February, according to the Indian Express.

The Narendra Modi government came under criticism after the apex court in November questioned it over “dragging its feet” from taking a stand on granting the status. Notably, the Union government in November also sought more time to submit its affidavit in the matter.

A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Yashwant Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha later posted the matter for hearing in the second week of February.

The court in November granted the Union government time till December 12 to file its response to Swamy’s plea after it pleaded the response was ready but awaited sanction from the relevant ministry. Swamy then also complained about the delay in the matter, referring to hearing in August. In August, the SC had given the Union government eight weeks to submit its affidavit and clarify its stand.

Swamy moved the Supreme Court in 2007 challenging the Sethusamudram Canal Project for linking Sri Lanka’s Mannar with Palk Strait, reported Hindustan Times. The former parliamentarian and top BJP leader said the dredging work for the project would damage the Ram Sethu. The court later stayed the work on the project.

No conclusive proof of Ram Setu: Modi govt says in Parliament

The Narendra Modi government informed Parliament in December that there is no conclusive evidence of Ram Setu, also known as Adam’s Bridge. Replying to Independent Rajya Sabha MP, Kartikeye Sharma, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said, “If it is said in simple words, it is difficult to say that the real form of Ram Setu is present there. However, there are some indications which suggest that the structure may be present there.”

The BJP aggressively raised the issue to target the UPA government– led by Congress – had earlier set up a committee under environmentalist R.K. Pachauri to examine an alternative alignment for the Sethusamudram project that involves digging of an 83km stretch to allow a navigational route through the chain of islands. The BJP had opposed it citing people’s belief that Lord Ram had created a path to reach Lanka to rescue Sita and that it should be protected.

Ram Setu, a 48 km chain of limestone shoals, connects Rameswaram off the South East Coast of Tamil Nadu to Mannar Island.

As per Hindu mythology and references in the Ramayana, Lord Ram’s army created the bridge while he was marching to Lanka to rescue his wife, Sita, from Ravana’s captivity.

The ‘Ram Setu’ has been at the heart of a debate about whether the Ramayana is based on historical facts or a mythological tale for years. It was also the subject of an eponymous film starring Akshay Kumar earlier this year.

-INDIA NEWS STREAM