The Centre on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that it had already come to a conclusion that Rama Setu does not fulfil the criteria for being declared a national monument.

"As far as we are concerned, the stand of the Government is very clear that Rama Setu could not fulfil the criteria of national monument," senior advocate Fali S Nariman, appearing for the Centre, told a Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan.

Further, on the issue of alternative alignment to avoid destruction of Rama Setu for the Sethusamudram project, he said, so far, he has not received any instruction from the Government.

Nariman said that would, most probably by evening or tomorrow, receive some instructions.

A day after making a strident argument that Rama Setu was destroyed by Lord Rama himself, the Centre had on July 24 changed tack and said that the viability of going ahead with the Sethusamudram project through an alternative alignment has been taken up at the "highest level".

"The suggestion for alternative alignment to avoid Rama Setu route has been taken as a special case. I have personally taken it at the highest level. It is being scientifically examined. I will come back to you by Tuesday or Wednesday," Nariman had told the Bench.