New Delhi: The Supreme Court, which has closed the case filed by Subramanian Swamy seeking to declare the Ram Bridge as a national heritage symbol, has directed that the petitioner can file the case again if he needs any relief.
Hindus believe that the limestone bridge-like structure from Dhanushkodi to the east coast of Sri Lanka is called Rama Palam. Senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy filed a case in the Supreme Court saying that the Setu Samudra project will destroy the Ram Bridge and therefore, the project should be banned. In this case, it was explained that the Setu Samudra Project will be implemented by the Central Government so that there is no damage to the Ram Bridge.
In this case, in 2015, Subramanian Swamy again filed a case in the Supreme Court to declare the Ram Bridge as a national heritage symbol. In that petition, he had sought withdrawal of the case filed seeking a stay on the Setu Samudra project if the Ram Bridge is declared a monument.
In 2018, the Supreme Court, which heard the case, ordered the central government to state its position regarding the declaration of the Ram Bridge as a heritage symbol. Later, when the case came up for hearing, the central government continued not to file a reply. While the central government has been delaying the response in this case, the central government had ordered the central government to express its position in the Ram Bridge case.
The case came up for hearing again today in a session presided over by Chief Justice Chandrachud. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing on behalf of the central government, said, “The central government is considering this issue. Therefore, if the petitioner wants, he can submit the additional documents in his possession as a request to the appropriate organization,” he argued.
Subramanian Swamy then interrupted, “The central government is deliberately dragging out this issue. And I don’t want to see any minister or officials regarding this issue. Because this issue is included in BJP’s manifesto. Therefore, the central government’s decision on this issue should be communicated within the time limit given by the Supreme Court. “If there is any dispute over the outcome, I will approach the Supreme Court again,” he said.
After hearing the case, the judges said, “The court records the central government’s arguments in the matter of declaring the Ram Bridge as a national heritage symbol. Regarding this matter, the petitioner can approach the Supreme Court again if he needs any relief in the future.”
They ordered to close the interlocutory petition filed by Subramanian Swamy seeking to declare the Ram Bridge as a national heritage symbol.
