Connect with us
Monday,23-March-2026
Breaking News

General

Process to declare Ram Setu a national heritage monument underway: Centre to SC

Published

on

The Central government on Thursday told the Supreme Court it was examining the issue in connection with declaring the Ram Setu a national heritage monument.

A bench, headed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, asked petitioner Subramanian Swamy, a former Rajya Sabha member, to make a representation to the government, if he wants.

The bench, also comprising Justice P.S. Narasimha and J.B. Pardiwala, said that Justice Narasimha will not be part of the proceedings as he had earlier appeared in the matter as counsel.

The top court noted that Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted that the process is currently underway in the Ministry of Culture. “He states that the petitioner may submit additional communication if he may so wish,” the bench said.

The bench asked the Centre to take a decision on the issue and granted Swamy the liberty to move before it again if he is not satisfied.

The two-judge bench, comprising the Chief Justice and Justice Pardiwala, disposed of Swamy’s interim application on the issue.

During the hearing, Swamy said he does not want to meet anybody. “We are in the same party; it was there in our manifesto… I will come again,” he said. Mehta said the process is underway.

Swamy informed the top court that in 2019, the then Culture Minister Prahlad Patel had called a meeting on the issue and recommended declaring the Ram Setu as a national heritage monument.

He submitted: “The issue is that they have to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’.”

On January 12, the Centre had told the Supreme Court it would file its response by February first week on a plea filed by Swamy seeking a direction to declare the Ram Setu a national heritage monument.

Swamy’s plea sought a direction to the Central government and the National Monument Authority to declare ‘Ram Setu’ as a monument of national importance. Ram Setu, which is also known as Adam’s Bridge, is a chain of limestone shoals between Pamban Island or Rameswaram Island, off the south-eastern coast of Tamil Nadu, and Mannar Island, off the north-western coast of Sri Lanka.

Swamy contended that the government has already accepted the existence of ‘Ram Setu’ and in 2017, a meeting was also convened to examine his demand, but things have not moved after that.

In April last year, a bench headed by the then Chief Justice S.A. Bobde had directed that the plea seeking National Heritage Status for Ram Setu be listed before the next Chief Justice of India.

The UPA government, in 2007, had proposed a Sethusamudram project. Under this project an 83-km-long deep-water channel was to be made by extensive dredging and removal of the limestone shoals, to link Mannar with Palk Strait. Swamy moved against this decision in the court and the government resorted to another plan to link Mannar with Palk Strait.

Maharashtra

Mumbai: Anti-Narcotics Cell takes strict action against drug peddlers, action taken against 6 smugglers so far, several cases registered

Published

on

Mumbai: The Anti-Narcotics Cell has ordered the deportation of three people involved in drug trafficking. Ahmed Mohammad Shafi Sheikh alias Akbar Khao, 42, of Kurla, Mohammad Farid Rehmatullah Sheikh alias Choha, 31, of Kurla, and Sarfaraz Sabir Ali alias Bhoora, 40, of Vikhroli, arrested in a drug case in Mumbai, have been deported. A case under the NDPS is pending against them and a charge sheet has also been filed against the accused. The accused have committed the crime again after being released on bail in the drug case. The NDPS unit Ghatkopar had recommended deportation to the Home Department, which has been sealed. On this basis, Mohammad Shafi Sheikh alias Akbar Khao, 42, was sent to Nagpur Jail on March 6, Mohammad Farid Rehmatullah Sheikh alias Choha, 31, of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar Jail and Sarfaraz Sabir Ali Khan alias Bhoora, 40, have been sent to Amrauti Jail. Ahmed Mohammad Shafi Sheikh A total of 7 cases have been registered under the NDPS Act against Akbar Ghau, 42, Worli, Kurla, VB Nagar, police station. A total of 6 cases have been registered against Muhammad Farid Rehmatullah, alias Choha, VB Nagar, Kurla. A total of 7 cases of NDPS have been registered against Sarfaraz Sabih Ali Khan, 40, Bandra Unit, Worli, Kurla, Kurla, Azad Maidan Unit. Since 2006, 6 accused involved in drug trafficking have been deported from the city. They have been taken into custody under the PIT NDPS Act. This action has been taken by DGP Nunath Dhole, head of the Anti-Narcotics Cell, on the instructions of Mumbai Police Commissioner Devin Bharti.

Continue Reading

Maharashtra

Govt working to ensure uninterrupted energy supply; PM Modi says imports rose from 27 to 41 nations

Published

on

New Delhi, March 23: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday stated that the government is working to ensure uninterrupted oil and gas supplies amid the conflict in West Asia, while emphasising that India has diversified its energy imports, unlike in previous instances, and will continue sourcing from wherever possible.

Initially, India imported energy needs such as crude oil, LNG, and LPG from 27 countries. Now, it imports energy from 41 countries.

The Prime Minister, addressing the Lok Sabha on the West Asia crisis, spoke about the energy security concerns of the country, said, “A large quantity of crude oil, gas, and fertilisers — many essential items — come to India through the Hormuz Strait route. Since the war began, the movement of ships through the Hormuz Strait has become very challenging. Despite this, our government has made efforts to ensure that the supply of petrol, diesel, and gas is not severely impacted.”

PM Modi stated that India imports 60 per cent of its LPG requirement and due to uncertainty in supply, the Centre has “prioritised domestic LPG consumers”.

“At the same time, domestic production of LPG is also being increased. Continuous efforts have also been made to ensure that the supply of petrol and diesel across the country remains smooth,” he said.

Highlighting the steps taken by the BJP-led government in the Centre over the last decade towards energy security, the Prime Minister said, “In the past 11 years, India has diversified its energy imports. Previously, energy needs such as crude oil, LNG, and LPG were imported from 27 countries. Today, India imports energy from 41 countries.”

He further highlighted India’s strategic steps to ensure energy security amid the ongoing conflict.

In the last decade, he said that India has prioritised storage of crude oil for times of crisis and today, the country has a strategic petroleum reserve of more than 53 lakh metric tonnes. He mentioned that the work is underway to create reserves of more than 64 lakh metric tonnes. The reserves held by Indian oil companies are separate, he added.

“In the last 11 years, our refining capacity has also increased significantly. The government is continuously in touch with suppliers from different countries, making efforts to ensure that oil and gas supplies continue from wherever possible. The Government of India is keeping a constant watch on Gulf and overseas shipping routes,” he said.

“Our endeavour is that ships carrying essential items like oil, gas, and fertilisers reach India safely. We are in constant communication with all our global partners to ensure that our maritime corridors remain safe. Due to such efforts, several of our ships stranded in the Hormuz Strait have also arrived in India in recent days,” PM Modi added.

Continue Reading

Maharashtra

Police misbehave with Shiv Sena leader and minister Shambhuraj Desai in Sitara district, Shiv Sena-BJP face to face in the House

Published

on

The uproar during the election for the post of president of Mumbai’s Satara Zilla Parishad had a huge impact in the legislature on Monday. Shiv Sena MLAs became quite aggressive on this issue. As soon as Shiv Sena minister Shambhuraj Desai raised the issue in the Legislative Council, Deputy Speaker Neelam Gorhe immediately ordered the suspension of Satara Superintendent of Police Tushar Doshi. After this, Shiv Sena MLAs sat on the steps of the legislature and protested against Superintendent of Police Tushar Doshi and the manner in which the elections to Satara Zilla Parishad were held. At that time, Shiv Sena MLAs raised loud slogans. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis looked quite angry due to the protest of Shiv Sena MLAs. After all this, he reached the house and spoke to Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Shambhuraj Desai. After all this, a round of talks began between Shiv Sena and BJP leaders to resolve the issue. Meanwhile, it is understood that there was a phone conversation between Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. At that time, Devendra Fadnavis also expressed his displeasure over the steps of the Shiv Sena MLA on the Vidhan Bhavan. Then Eknath Shinde immediately raised a counter question. Eknath Shinde expressed his displeasure over the behavior of BJP MLA Jay Kumar Gaur in Satara. It is understood that Eknath Shinde asked Devendra Fadnavis if the Shiv Sena MLA’s protest on the steps was not right, so was Jay Kumar Gaur’s behavior right. Now it is understood that a meeting will be held between Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis soon regarding this dispute. Sources also know that behind-the-scenes activities are going on to ensure harmony between the two parties. Shiv Sena ministers and MLAs became aggressive against the misbehavior in Satara. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also expressed his displeasure over this incident. He said that the secondary treatment being given to the ruling ministers and MLAs is unbearable. Not only this, the Shiv Sena minister also expressed his position to Eknath Shinde that we will resign. The MLAs and ministers said that this should be considered because we are constantly being suppressed and strangled.
The total number of seats in Sitara Zilla Parishad is 65.

BJP 27, NCP 20, Shiv Sena 15, Congress 1, Independent 2. During the Zilla Parishad elections in Sitara, Shambhuraj Desai made serious allegations of misbehavior and threats to the police, after which a ruckus has started in the House as well. Shiv Sena took an aggressive stance and protested on the steps of the Assembly, due to which there have now been rumors of differences between Shiv Sena and BJP, while efforts have also been made to resolve these differences. This claim has been made by political sources. Now Shiv Sena and BJP have come face to face on this issue.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending