SC to hear petitions on Ram Setu tomorrow

New Delhi, Apr 14 (UNI) The Supreme Court will hear tomorrow the petitions opposing the demolition of Ram Setu also known as Adam's Bridge for completing the Sethusamudram project.

A bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan is due to hear a batch of petitions filed by former Union Minister Subramanian Swamy, former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa and others seeking declaration from the apex court that Ram Setu is a monument of national heritage.

The Central government will be pressing for vacation of the interim stay granted by the Supreme Court against the demolition of 31 km long Ram Setu.

The Centre and Karunanidhi government in Tamil Nadu are pressing for vacation of interim stay granted by the apex court on August 31 last year.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, Union Minister T R Baalu, state Chief Secretary Loknath Tripathi and others are facing contempt of court proceedings for enforcing Tamil Nadu bandh on October 1, 2007, for speedy completion of Sethusamudram project in defiance of the Supreme Court orders dated September 30, 2007, directing the state government not to enforce the bandh.

The Central government had to withdraw its earlier affidavit, questioning the existence of events and characters described in Ramayana saying that there was no scientific evidence to prove the occurrence and existence of the events and characters mentioned in Ramayana, under tremendous public pressure.In its latest affidavit the Central government has left it to the Supreme Court to decide whether Ram Setu is a natural formation or is man made.

UNI SC NY HT1408