If this is the way SC judges are reacting,
can we expect justice in Ram sethu case?
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The judge said:
“In our country, the
are all worshipped.
Do you mean to say that the land can’t be touched,
dams can’t be constructed across rivers and hills can’t be touched for stones?”
Referring to the arguments of Mr. Sorabjee, who is appearing for S. Kalyanaraman,
Mr. Parasaran said: “Before taking up this case,
Mr. Sorabjee had read three volumes of Valmiki Ramayanam and the Ramayana written by C. Rajagopalachari.”
Justice Raveendran retorted: “Do you expect judges also to become experts by reading these volumes.”
When Mr. Parasaran was explaining the role assigned to each community in society,
Justice Raveendran jocularly asked, “Are you arguing the reservation case or this case?”
Detailed news here:-
http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/07/stories/2008050760601700.htm
J. Venkatesan
| Even if one mm of causeway is removed, it will amount to defiling the sacred place: Parasaran |
“Breaking Ramar Sethu will be another scar like the Babri Masjid demolition”
He was arguing before a Supreme Court Bench comprising Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justices R.V. Raveendran and J.M. Panchal, which is hearing petitions challenging the Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project on the ground that implementing it would cause damage to Ramar Sethu (
Mr. Parasaran, appearing for Hindu Munnani leader Rama Gopalan, said: “Ramar Sethu is considered by large sections of believers a holy and a sacred place. That part of the sea in the area of Dhanuskodi, Rameswaram, Tirupulani and Devipatnam is considered a holy place by reason of the existence of Ramar Sethu, believed to have been constructed to enable Lord Rama to have passage to
To interfere [with] or destroy even a part of the said causeway would be an interference with the right of liberty of belief, faith and worship.”
Earlier when Soli Sorabjee, former Attorney-General and senior counsel, was making his submissions, Justice Raveendran asked “whether even a small portion of Ramar Sethu [300 metres] can’t be touched for purposes of development.”
The judge said: “In our country, the
Special sanctity
Answering this question, Mr. Parasaran said: “This is a matter of established customs and faith. An idol, object, place, river or city may be held sacred. Sethu and
He quoted extensively from various documents, texts and puranas which had a reference to Ramar Sethu as a place of worship, and said a duty was cast on the government to protect it.
When Mr. Parasaran was explaining the role assigned to each community in society, Justice Raveendran jocularly asked, “Are you arguing the reservation case or this case?”
Referring to the arguments of Mr. Sorabjee, who is appearing for S. Kalyanaraman, Mr. Parasaran said: “Before taking up this case, Mr. Sorabjee had read three volumes of Valmiki Ramayanam and the Ramayana written by C. Rajagopalachari.” Justice Raveendran retorted: “Do you expect judges also to become experts by reading these volumes.”
Public interest
Mr. Parasaran said “the present case involves two aspects of the public interest, viz. claim of right to religious belief, faith and worship, on the one hand, and the claim of economic and commercial development in the matter of providing convenient passage for ships [on the other]. Every attempt should be made to accommodate both aspects of the public interest. But there is complete abdication of responsibility and non-application of mind by the government.”
On August 31 last, the court, acting on Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy’s application, passed an interim order restraining the Centre from causing any damage to Ramar Sethu in carrying out the project. Among the other petitioners are AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa and the Dandi Swami, Sri Vidyananada Bharati.
