Overview

• A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta issued notice to the Union government and listed the public interest litigation for hearing in four weeks.
• Swamy’s petition asks the court to direct the Centre to declare Ram Setu a national monument and to order surveys by the Geological Survey of India and the Archaeological Survey of India.
• He informed the court that, despite a January 19, 2023 order noting the Culture Ministry was examining the issue, no decision was conveyed after representations filed in January 2023 and May 2025.
• The Supreme Court had earlier criticized the government over delays, asking why it was “dragging its feet” when a response was sought.
• The case stems from challenges to the Setusamudram Shipping Channel Project, which the court stayed in 2007 and which envisioned an 83‑km dredged channel through limestone shoals that drew political, environmental and religious opposition.