The Supreme Court's division bench of CJI, Justice D. Y. Chandrachud, Justice Hima Kohli, and Justice J.B. Pardiwala directed the Union Government on Thursday to file a counter-affidavit in the petition filed by Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Subramanian Swamy seeking National Heritage Status for Ram Setu within four weeks.

The Union Government's Counsel assured the Bench that the counter-affidavit was ready to be filed, but they were awaiting instructions from the concerned ministry.

Dr. Swamy stressed that the matter has been ongoing for about 8 years, but the government has yet to take a position.

The issue seeking the declaration of the Ram Setu as a national heritage was raised by Swamy in his 2007 plea against the Sethu Samundram Ship Channel project.

Under the Setu Samundram project, an 83-km-long channel was to be created by extensive dredging, linking Mannar and Palk Strait. The project was alleged to have an impact on the Ram Setu.

Ram Setu is a bridge that spans a chain of limestone shoals off the south-eastern coast of Tamil Nadu. It runs from Pamban Island, near Rameshwaram in south India, to Mannar Island, off the northern coast of Sri Lanka. The bridge is mentioned in the epic Ramayana as having been constructed by Lord Ram to reach Sri Lanka to rescue Sita.