SC rejects plea towards dismantling of decommissioned plane provider ‘Viraat’

The Supreme Court Monday dismissed a plea of a personal agency searching for preservation of India”s decommissioned plane provider ”Viraat” and its conversion right into a museum.
A bench of Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justice A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian took observe of the truth that the Ministry of Defence has refused to simply accept the illustration of personal agency Envitech Marine Consultants Pvt Ltd that the decommissioned plane provider be preserved.

“You cannot do this. The (Bombay) High Court had allowed you to give representation to the government. You did it. The government (Ministry of Defence) dismissed it. You did not challenge it,” the bench stated.
In the proceedings carried out by video conferencing, the bench refused to simply accept submissions of Rupali Sharma, consultant of Envitech Marine, that this can be a “national treasury” and wanted to be saved.
Senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan appeared for Shree Ram Group which had bought the ship and stated, “they had approached the Ministry of Defence. Ministry says no. The matter ends. The petition has to be disposed of.”

Earlier on April 5, the apex courtroom had requested the petitioner agency to file its response on the report of standing of the dismantling of the warship.
The centaur-class plane provider, INS Viraat, was in service with the Indian Navy for 29 years earlier than being decommissioned in March 2017.

”Viraat” had reached the Alang ship breaking yard in Gujarat from Mumbai in September final yr and the dismantling course of was happening.
Another personal agency Shree Ram Group at Alang in Bhavnagar district of Gujarat has purchased Viraat at an public sale in July final yr for Rs 38.54 crore and commenced the dismantling course of in December final yr.
The bench, after perusing the report on the standing of dismantling of ”Viraat”, had requested the personal agency Envitech Marine Consultants Pvt Ltd if 40 per cent of the warship has been dismantled after a sound buy by one other firm, then why does it need to take it for making a museum.
Rupali Sharma, representing Envitech Marine, had stated that she want to examine the ship to establish the standing of dismantling and added that, “around the world these warships are preserved”.
“We have already dismantled around 40 per cent of the ship and all important parts have been taken out,” Dhavan had stated whereas referring to the report filed by Shree Ram Group that main fixtures like equipment, navigation gadgets, and furnishings have all been taken out.
He had stated, “The vessel is totally grounded and is a dead structure” and even the Centre has refused to offer no objection certificates for making the warship a museum.
The bench had then requested Sharma to undergo the report filed by Shree Ram Group and file the response in a single week.
On February 10, the highest courtroom had ordered established order on dismantling of ”Viraat” and sought responses from the Centre and Shree Ram Group on the plea of Envitech Marine, which has provided to pay Rs 100 crore for the ship, in order that it may be transformed right into a museum.
The Centre had in July 2019 knowledgeable Parliament that the choice to scrap Viraat was taken after due session with the Indian Navy.
Viraat is the second plane provider which is being dismantled in India. In 2014, Vikrant was dismantled in Mumbai.