New Delhi, January 20: The Centre on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that a process is underway in the Ministry of Culture to declare Ram Setu as “national monument of importance”
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the apex court since the Ministry of Culture has already initiated the process to declare Sri Ram Setu as ‘national monument of importance’ the petitioner (Dr Subramanian Swamy) may be asked to submit additional material ‘if he so desires’
It may be recalled that Dr Swamy had filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the Centre to declare Sri Ram Setu as ‘monument of national importance’.
Dr Swamy had furnished historical and archeological evidence to buttress his argument. When the Supreme Court wanted to give a direction to the Centre on the matter, the Solicitor General made the submission that a process is already underway in that direction.
Sri Ram Setu, situated between Talaimannar in Sri Lanka and Dhanushkodi at Rameshwaram in the state of Tamil Nadu, stretches for about 48-kms in length.
According mythology as well as history, the bridge was constructed by Lord Ram with the help of army of monkeys, to cross over to Lanka to rescue his wife Sita from Lankan king Ravana.
Dr Subramanian Swamy had contended that there are historical records and empirical evidence to prove that the bridge indeed belongs to Ram’s period and hence it should be protected by declaring it as national monument of importance.
The Solicitor General submitted to the court, “Your Lordship need not invest time. The process is already underway to declare Sri Ram Setu as national monument of importance”.
Following this submission, the Supreme Court disposed Dr Dr Swamy’s petition with ‘liberty to approach again’
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