Ram Setu: SC asks Centre about alternate route

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked for the Union Government’s final stand on whether a shorter sea route around India’s southern tip could be built along an alternate alignment, sparing any damage to the mythological Ram Setu.

A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) KG Balakrishnan, Justice RV Raveendran and Justice JM Panchal sought the Union Government’s stand on having alternate alignment for the Sethusamudram channel, while hearing a plea by former union minister Subramanian Swamy for scrapping the project.

"You have to say something (on the question of having an alternate alignment). You have to disclose your stand," Justice Raveendran told Additional Solicitor General Harin Rawal, as Swamy contended that the matter has been hanging fire since July last year.

As Rawal sought a rather long duration for the government to disclose its stand, the CJI remarked: "The matter is pending since long. It will not look nice (to give long adjournment)."

The bench sought the government’s stand within four weeks and adjourned the matter for next hearing December 11.

The apex court had on July 30, 2008 reserved its order on a bunch of lawsuits, questioning the government’s decision to implement the Sethusamudram project, involving building of shorter navigational sea route around India’s southern tip, cutting across Ram Setu, damaging the mythological bridge and hurting the religious sentiments of millions of Hindus.

The bench had reserved its order after hearing various parties, including the union government, for over three months last year on the issue.

During the hearing, the court had asked the government if it was feasible to build the shorter navigational route around the country’s southern tip along an alternate alignment without damaging Ram Setu.

On the court’s suggestion, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had personally intervened in the matter and had appointed an expert panel to examine if the Sethusamudram channel could be build along a different alignment without damaging the mythological Ram Setu.

But the expert committee is yet to give its report. The apex court has been awaiting the report before it takes a decision on the lawsuits against implementation of the project.

Ram Setu is a mythological bridge that finds mention in the epic Ramayana.