[Ram Setu petition] "8 years have gone by, why the delay": Subramanian Swamy to Supreme Court after government seeks adjournment

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Thursday raised objection to the request by the Central government to adjourn Swamy's petition seeking seeking 'national monument' status for Ram Setu.

Swamy said that many years have passed by without any progress in the matter and that the Centre's response on his plea only is a matter of 'yes' or 'no'.

"Eight years have gone by in this and what is there to delay. Only whether or not national heritage status can be given," he said.

He made the submission after the Central government sought two more weeks to file its response to the petition.

When the hearing began before Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices Hima Kohli and JB Pardiwala, Swamy pointed out that the Court had directed the Centre on October 13 to file its response.

"A letter has been circulated stating that Solicitor General Tushar Mehta would not be able to come. But October 13 order directed him to file a reply before the next date," Swamy said.

The Central government counsel then sought two more weeks to file the response.

"Reply is ready. We need to approval from the ministry.. please grant us 2 weeks."

Swamy objected to the same but the Court proceeded to allow the request.

"Four weeks granted (to Central government) for reply, and two weeks for the rejoinder," the bench directed.