Directions issued by Supreme Court to dismantle oldest serving warship of India - “INS Viraat”

Parliament was informed that the Government had taken a decision, in consultation with the Navy to scrap INS Viraat, as the Indian Navy had been incurring expenditure on its upkeep and no State Government was willing to take the ship, on account of financial liability.

By filing a Special leave petition petitioner is sought ‘No Objection Certificate’ from the Ministry of Defence of the Government of India, for the conversion of the warship INS Viraat formerly known as HMS Hermes, from scrap to Museum to preserve memorial to promote and strengthen Indian and British Navy traditions, history and heritage.

But since the dismantling or recycling work started three months ago and according to the certificate issued by the Marine Surveyors, about 35 to 40% of the work of the dismantling had already been completed. The certificate of the surveyors shows that the vessel sustained severe hull damage in many areas, during the embarkation of loose parts and pieces of equipment. All documents and certificates as well as the operational manuals have been removed and the navigational items and communications devices broken and removed. According to the surveyors, the vessel is in ‘grounded condition’ and can be called a dead structure.

Hence the Supreme Court observed that nothing can be done at this stage. Therefore no doubt that the Oldest serving warship of India “INS Viraat” will be dismantled.

Appearing counsels: Shri Balbir Singh, Shri Rajeev Dhavan