New Delhi — The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Centre to respond to a petition filed by former Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy seeking recognition of Ram Setu as a national monument.
A Bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta issued notice to the Union government and scheduled the next hearing in four weeks. Swamy’s petition urged the government to take a decision on his long-pending representation and also sought a detailed survey of the structure by the Geological Survey of India and the Archaeological Survey of India.
Ram Setu, a chain of limestone shoals stretching between Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu and Mannar Island in Sri Lanka, has been at the centre of debate for years. Swamy argued that the Centre had already accepted its existence and recalled that a meeting was convened by the concerned minister in 2017, but no further action was taken.
The plea is linked to the Setusamudram Ship Channel Project, first proposed during the UPA-I regime, which aimed to create an 83-km-long deep-water channel by dredging through the limestone shoals. The project was put on hold in 2007 after the top court stayed its progress, citing widespread protests from environmentalists, political parties, and religious groups.
The Centre had later acknowledged the “socio-economic disadvantages” of the project and indicated its willingness to explore alternative routes that would not harm Ram Setu. The Supreme Court, however, had repeatedly criticised the government for delays, once questioning, “Why are you dragging your feet?” when the Centre sought more time to respond.
The matter will now return to the court after four weeks, with the Centre required to clarify its stance on granting Ram Setu the status of a national monument.
