Unveiling the Legal Verdict
On a recent Tuesday, the Supreme Court made a decisive move by rejecting a plea that aimed to designate the revered ‘Ram Setu’ as a national monument. The plea also sought permission to erect a protective wall at the site, extending into the sea for a few meters or kilometers, enabling the public to have unhindered ‘Darshan’ or sacred viewing.
Public Interest Litigation Rejected
A public interest litigation (PIL) was presented before a bench presided over by Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia. However, the apex court subsequently dismissed the plea. The petitioner, the Hindu Personal Law Board, led by President Ashok Pandey, had fervently prayed for the declaration of ‘Sri Ram Setu/Nalahin Setu/Setu Bandh’ as a national monument under the purview of the Ancient Monuments, Archaeological Sites, and Remains Act of 1958.
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The Iconic ‘Ram Setu’
‘Ram Setu,’ commonly known as Adam’s Bridge, stands as a chain of limestone shoals, gracefully stretching between Pamban Island off the south-eastern coast of Tamil Nadu and Mannar Island off the north-western coast of Sri Lanka.
Bridging Spiritual Connections
The petitioner expressed a profound belief that opening the Setu to the public would allow people from around the world to visit Dhanuskoti (Rameshwaram) for a sacred glimpse of the bridge constructed under the divine orders of Lord Ram. Enabling access would fulfill the aspirations of millions to walk, sit, and even sleep on this historical bridge. It’s the very bridge that witnessed the march of Lord Ram and his army to Lanka, marking the defeat of Rawan and the establishment of Ram Raj in Lanka.
Positive Developments: Sri Nitin Gadkari’s Assurance
In a reassuring development, Sri Nitin Gadkari, the minister overseeing this department, declared in Parliament that Sri Ram Setu would remain untouched. He affirmed that the completion of the Setu Samudram Shipping Canal Project (SSSCP) would proceed without causing any harm to this revered structure. In essence, the legal dismissal preserves the sanctity of ‘Ram Sethu’ while paving the way for the Setu Samudram Shipping Canal Project to move forward without compromising on its completion.
