18-02-2021 | 15:41 PM
INS Viraat
Context
Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) S A Bobde stayed dismantling of the decommissioned India’s first aircraft carrier INS Viraat after hearing a petition by a firm seeking to convert the ship into a maritime museum & multi-functional adventure centre.
Key highlights
INS Viraat, the world's longest-serving warship, was decommissioned by the Indian Navy four years ago.
It was the second centaur-class aircraft carrier which was in service with the Indian Navy for 30 years before being decommissioned in March 2017.
The aircraft carrier was the flagship of Indian Navy till 2013 before INS Vikramaditya was commissioned into service.
The centre had informed the Parliament in July 2019 about their decision to dismantle the INS Viraat after holding due consultation with the Indian Navy.
In December 2020, Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi wrote to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and sought his immediate intervention to grant NOC (no objection certificate) to preserve decommissioned aircraft carrier INS Viraat. She also requested the central government to make the iconic carrier a memorial of India's nationalism, patriotism and pride.
The warship, which was inducted into the Indian Navy in 1987, was purchased by Shree Ram Group for a sum of ₹38.54 crore at an auction conducted by Metal scrap trade operation limited in July 2020.
