New Delhi: The Supreme court on Monday has rejected a plea seeking restoration of Indian warship INS Viraat.
The Supreme Court today revoked its stay on demolition of INS Viraat and rejected the plea of M/S Envitech Marine Consultants private limited and others which wanted to restore the warship and converted it into a museum.
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The bench comprising of CJI SA Bobde, Justice AS Bopanna and Justice V Ramasubramanian observed that the petitioner had come too late as 40% of the warship is already dismantled.
"We are with you as far as the spirit of nationalism is concerned, but you are too late in this case. We can not interfere now. The government has already taken a decision," said CJI.
The plea had challenged the Bombay High Court order which had refused to stay the decommissioning of the ship. The apex court was informed today that HC had asked the petitioner to approach the Ministry of Defense but the ministry had also refused its request.
This Centaur-class aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy that remained in service for almost 30 years holds the Guinness record for the world's longest-serving warship.
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On the day of the farewell of the historic warship, Shipping Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that efforts were made to convert INS Viraat into a museum and several consultations were done but the plan could not materialise as an expert committee reported that it won't last for more than a decade.
"The government was ready to spend Rs 400-Rs 500 crores to convert it into Museum but an expert committee said its ferrous won't last and it may result in an accident. Under the circumstances, we had to bid a tearful adieu to it," the Minister had said.
