SC notice to Indian govt on reclaiming Katchatheevu
July 15, 2013 09:31 pm
The Supreme Court of India Monday issued notice to the central government on a petition by DMK chief M. Karunanidhi seeking the reclaiming of the Katchatheevu Island whose control India conceded to Sri Lanka in the 1970s.
The petition also sought the restoration of fishing rights of Tamil fishermen hailing from Ramanathapuram, Pudukkottai, Thanjavur and Nagapattinam districts near Katchatheevu Island.
The apex court bench of Chief Justice Altamas Kabir, Justice F.M.I. Kalifulla and Justice Vikramajit Sen issued the notice on the petition which sought the declaration of two agreement of June 1974 and March 1976 by which India gave Katchatheevu Island to Sri Lanka as unconstitutional.
Karunanidhi urged the court to direct the government to reclaim the island as a part of Tamil Nadu and an integral part of India.
Katchatheevu Island located about 10 miles northeast of Rameswaram is an uninhabited area. Ever since the control of Katchatheevu Island was given to Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu fishermen were deprived of fishing in the area.
The fishermen from Ramanathapuram, Pudukkottai, Thanjavur and Nagapattinam districts were using Katchatheevu Island during their fishing activities for drying nets and resting.
The petition urged the court to direct the government to compensate the fishermen who lost their lives and property in the course of attack on them by Sri Lanka.
The DMK leader said the conceding of the control of the Katchatheevu Island to Sri Lanka was “unconstitutional”. - IANS
