Can Rama Sethu be declared national monument: SC asks Centre

The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the government to make its stand clear on whether the ancient Rama Sethu could be declared as a national monument.
A bench headed by Justice HL Dattu granted a day's time to Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Haren Raval to take instructions from the relevant government departments on the issue and posted the matter for further hearing on Thursday, March 29.

"If you say you don't want to file counter affidavit, we can go ahead with the argument in the case," the bench said.

It also directed the government to place the report of the Prime Minister-appointed panel, headed by environmentalist RK Pachauri, on the feasibility of executing the controversial Sethusamudram project through Dhanuskodi instead of routing it through the Rama Sethu.

Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy who is also a petitioner on the controversial issue said there has been delay on the part of the government in placing the report and it should be directed to immediately place the report before the court.

The apex court, however, granted six weeks to the government for the purpose, saying "making them hurry will not be good for anybody".The Supreme Court today asked the government to make its stand clear on whether the ancient Rama Sethu could be declared as a national monument.

A bench headed by Justice HL Dattu granted a day's time to Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Haren Raval to take instructions from the relevant government departments on the issue and posted the matter for further hearing on Thursday, March 29.

"If you say you don't want to file counter affidavit, we can go ahead with the argument in the case," the bench said.

It also directed the government to place the report of the Prime Minister-appointed panel, headed by environmentalist RK Pachauri, on the feasibility of executing the controversial Sethusamudram project through Dhanuskodi instead of routing it through the Rama Sethu.

Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy who is also a petitioner on the controversial issue said there has been delay on the part of the government in placing the report and it should be directed to immediately place the report before the court.

The apex court, however, granted six weeks to the government for the purpose, saying "making them hurry will not be good for anybody".

UR: Its our ancient treasure, our technology that left the world in awe, Greece embraced their history with Governance and Urbanization, Egypt claimed their architectural pride with pyramids and Chinese boasted their extensive use of wood, paper, chop sticks, etc., and when India is given its turn its left looking back as a Jack of All, never embracing any certain achievement, people still fight on the origins of Aryans. Some random guy named OUR Ram Sethu as Adam's Bridge. Instead of accepting our Treasures, the world is actually naming it after a legend of 19th century!! We really hope it gets declared as a national treasure, and we kindly request people not to take this move as any advancement of any individual religion. Admire the history and ignore the religion. Then we could all look at India rather than Individual India's we end up creating. Let the truth prevail.