Tanvi Sinha
The Supreme Court ordered absolute status quo on the demolition of India’s aircraft INS Viraat, that was decommissioned in 2016.
This order comes as a campaign on social media trended to save the warship and convert it into a heritage monument, with a separate petition also filed to the Top Court asking a stay on the demolition of the warship.
The ship was bought by Mukesh Patel, Chairman of the Shree Ram Group from an auction in July last year for 38.54 crore INR and has been 30% dismantled already, with work on the warship starting in December itself.
The ship was expected to be completely dismantled in nine months but due to the demolition order will now be expected to remain as it is, indefinitely as of now.
The Warship holds the title for the world’s largest serving warship and was decommissioned by the Indian Navy in 2016, after 30 years of service.
It happens to be the 2nd warship that was to be dismantled after the Vikrant was dismantled in Mumbai in 2014.
