The Hindu : National : Swamy for scrapping Ram Sethu panel

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007
ePaper

National

National

Swamy for scrapping Ram Sethu panel

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi: Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy on Tuesday moved the Supreme Court seeking a direction to scrap the “Committee of Eminent Persons,” constituted by the Centre on the Sethusamudram Shipping Channel Project.

He alleged that some members did not qualify to be on the committee, considering their background and views expressed.

Dr. Swamy is likely to make a “mention” in the court on Wednesday for early hearing of the application.

In his application filed in the main petition, he said the 10-member committee was formed on October 5, and it had invited suggestions and objections in relation to the project.

The committee, as set up now, was vitiated by virtue of bias exhibited by some of its members, including the Chairperson, Professor S. Ramachandran, he said.

Dr. Swamy contended that the committee was also vitiated by non-inclusion of certain experts essential to address the criticisms, which led to the government’s decision to reconsider all aspects of the project.

The application said that not a single archaeologist was included in the committee to consider whether Ramar Sethu qualified to be declared a national monument.

Further, it did not include conservationists or scientists from organisations such as the National Institute of Ocean Technology or the Geological Survey of India.

In the interests of justice and fair play, he prayed for a direction to quash the committee and set up a new one.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National