Hindu Personal Law Board moves Supreme Court for 'darshan' of Ram Setu

The Hindu Personal Law Board (HPLB) has moved the Supreme Court with a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the construction of a wall at the Ram Setu site.

The Hindu Personal Law Board (HPLB) has moved the Supreme Court with a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the construction of a wall at the Ram Setu site.

Ashok Pandey, the chairman of the Hindu Personal Law Board, has filed a petition in the Supreme Court stating that a "darshan" of Ram Setu will give "moksha (divine freedom) to crores of people".

"Darshan of Ram Setu guarantees moksha," the plea stated.

The PIL has sought the construction of a wall in the vicinity of Ram Setu, situated on Dhanushkodi sea in Rameshwaram, which is the south-most tip of the Indian peninsular.

The Board has also said that the Centre has not taken the required steps to manage Sri Ram Setu.

"The Government of Bharat claims to be working on the agenda to bring Ram Raj, which is not possible unless the Darshan of Sri Ram Setu is managed by erecting a wall. Erecting of some walls is possible as only 4 to 40 feet of water exists on the Setu," the plea said.

"If this Setu is open (to darshan), it will give way for people across the world to come to Dhanushkodi for the darshan of the bridge constructed on the orders of Lord Ram.

"The common man will be able to walk on this bridge for a few meters. It will fulfil the desire of crores of people like the petitioner to walk, sit and sleep on the bridge along which Ram along with his army went to Lanka to kill Rawan and to establish Ram Raj in Lanka," the plea stated.

The petition has also called for declaring Ram Setu as a national monument.