The Madras High Court convened to address the persistent issue of Sri Lankan naval forces’ attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen. Chief Justice SV Gangapurwala questioned the Assistant Solicitor General Rajesh Vivekanandan, representing the Centre, on the lack of proactive measures to prevent these recurring incidents.
Expressing dismay, the Chief Justice queried why the government hasn’t initiated dialogues to resolve the matter, emphasizing the repetitive nature of these assaults. This discussion unfolded during the hearing of a public interest litigation petition filed by Peter Rayan, president of Fishermen Care, an organization dedicated to advocating for fishermen’s rights.
Rayan’s legal counsel, LP Maurya, urged the court to direct the Ministry of External Affairs to convene a meeting of the joint working group to address longstanding issues surrounding the traditional fishing rights of Indian fishermen. The petition highlighted that in the most recent incident, 23 fishermen were arrested.
However, the bench clarified its limitations in issuing directives concerning fishing rights, as it involves matters with another nation. Advocate General PS Raman informed the court of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s letter to the Centre, seeking intervention to secure the release of the arrested fishermen.
Moreover, Raman disclosed that the state government is providing a relief amount of Rs. 250 per day to the families of the arrested fishermen, though the bench recommended an increase in this relief amount.
The petition underscored the frequent attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy, which result in damage to their boats and pose an ongoing threat to their lives. Notably, on December 9, 2023, 25 fishermen were arrested, followed by the arrest of six more on December 13, 2023.
The Madras High Court’s scrutiny of the Centre’s response to these attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen underscores the urgency of addressing this pressing issue to ensure the safety and security of the fishermen community.
