Chennai: The Madras High Court on Monday reserved
orders on a Public Interest Litigation seeking a direction to
the Union Government to give adequate protection to fishermen
of Tamil Nadu "who enjoy traditional fishing rights in the
waters between India and Sri Lanka."
According to the petitioner, Fisherman Care, traditional
fishing rights is guaranteed in the 1974 agreement between
India and Sri Lanka. It contended that since 1983 there had
been reports of several instances of firing by Sri Lankan
naval personnel against fishermen of Tamil Nadu and their
fishing equipment destroyed.
No permanent solution has so far been evolved, either by
governments or the international forum to settle the issue,
the petitioner said.
Fishermen Care also sought constitution of a committee
under chairmanship of a High Court judge to enquire into the
`negligence` and `failure` of the Coast Guard at Mandapam to
prevent alleged human rights violations by Sri Lankan Navy
against fishermen of Tamil Nadu 1983.
When the matter came up on Monday, the First Bench, comprising
Chief Justice M Y Eqbal and Justice T S Sivagnanam, reserved
orders after hearing submission by the petitioner’s counsel.
PTI
