SC gives more time to Centre to response on Ram Setu national monument plea

'Ram Setu' as a national heritage in the first week of February.

Subramanian Swamy, leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party, had petitioned for Ram Setu to be designated as a “national monument,” and the Supreme Court on Thursday gave the Union government an extension until the first week of February to submit its response.

In November, after the government asked for extra time to file its affidavit in the case, the court questioned the administration for “dragging its feet” in making a decision about awarding the status.

Solicitor general Tushar Mehta on Thursday told the court a discussion was going on in the government and the matter was under consideration.

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.

Since the CJI was scheduled to hear the issue involving the power struggle between the Delhi and the Union governments over control of bureaucrats, Swamy indicated the subject scheduled for Thursday as being unlikely to be called up for hearing.

The Union government argued that its response to Swamy’s petition was complete but was awaiting approval from the appropriate ministry, and the court agreed, giving it until December 12 to file it.

In 2007, Swamy filed a petition with the Supreme Court opposing the Sethusamudram Canal Project, which would have connected Mannar in Sri Lanka with Palk Strait. Swamy claimed that the Ram Sethu would be harmed by the project’s dredging work.

Later, the project’s work was suspended by the court.

Rameswaram off the South East Coast of Tamil Nadu is connected to Mannar Island by Ram Setu, a 48 km chain of limestone shoals. Hindu mythology and references in the Ramayana claim that while Lord Ram was on his way to Lanka to save his wife, Sita, from Ravana’s clutches, his army built the bridge.

The court told the Union government eight weeks to submit an affidavit and explain its position in August. Swamy voiced his dissatisfaction with the situation’s delay in November. He claimed that there are only two possible answers to his plea: yes or no.