Court hearing on Katchatheevu petitions adjourned to February 2027 amid concerns over repeated arrests of Indian fishermen
PRAVASISAMWAD.COM
The Supreme Court has asked the Centre to take steps to sensitise Tamil Nadu fishermen against crossing the international maritime boundary and entering Sri Lankan territorial waters while fishing near Katchatheevu, amid continuing arrests of Indian fishermen.
A Bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and Sanjeev Sachdeva made the observation on Tuesday while hearing petitions challenging the transfer of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka under the 1974 Indo-Sri Lankan Maritime Agreement and restrictions imposed under a subsequent 1976 agreement.
The court’s remarks came against the backdrop of repeated arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen by Sri Lankan authorities. Justice Kumar said measures were needed to prevent such arrests and suggested that fishermen should be made aware of the point beyond which they should not venture.
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Attorney General R Venkataramani told the court that the Centre was aware of the issue and was taking steps
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He said India did not want the fishermen’s dispute to affect its relationship with Sri Lanka and that the matter was also being addressed through diplomatic channels
The Attorney General also referred to declining fish availability along India’s coast and alleged that pollution and depletion of marine resources were contributing to fishermen crossing into Sri Lankan waters. Tamil Nadu’s representatives disputed the suggestion that local fishermen were responsible for pollution.
The state government said the issue required a solution through discussions between India and Sri Lanka. It also referred to a recent request from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to the Centre seeking steps for the release of 20 fishermen held in Sri Lanka.
Senior advocate P Wilson, appearing in the case, argued that a constitutional amendment was required to ratify the Katchatheevu agreement, pointing to the absence of an amendment to Schedule I of the Constitution.
The Supreme Court did not rule on the validity of the agreements and adjourned further hearing until February 2027.
