HC orders notice on PILs in Sethu case

Chennai, May 15 (UNI) Madras High Court today ordered notice, returnable by May 29 to Union Government on Public Interest Litigations (PIL) seeking to restrain the Centre from demolishing, mutilating or tampering with the existing 'Ramar Palam' for the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project (SSCP).

A Division Bench comprising Justices M Jeyapaul and P R Shivakumar ordered notice to Union Ministry of Shiping, Surface Transport and Highways Transport, Chairman and Managing Director of Sethusamudram Corporation Limited, Union Minister T R Baalu and two others while admitting the PILs filed by Hindu Munnani Founder-President Rama Gopalan and Janata Party President S Subramanian Swamy.

In his PIL, Mr Rama Gopalan sought to restrain the Union Government from demolishing or damaging the existing Ramar Palam, also known as Adams Bridge and consequently direct the authorities to consider the completion of the project by following any other alignment.

In his petition, Dr Swamy sought a direction to conduct an enquiry and investigate into the origin and history of Ramar Sethu by immediately constituting a committee of experts in the field to certify the existence or non-existence of the bridge and also verify other aspects and materials relevant and needed for forming opinion to declare it as a monument of national importance and cultural heritage.

Mr Swamy also sought a direction to declare Ramar Sethu as Monument of National importance under the Ancient Monuments and Archeological Sites and Remains Act.

UNI