Madras High Court directs Centre to file report on steps on fishermen safety

MADURAI: Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the Central Government to file a report within three weeks regarding the steps taken by it to protect Tamil Nadu fishermen while fishing in the Palk Bay.

Justice M Jaichandran and Justice R Mahadevan gave the direction while hearing a contempt petition against top officials, including the Defence and Foreign secretaries, for alleged attacks on Indian fishermen in the country's territorial waters despite the government's assurance about ensuring their safety.

Petitioner, S M Ananthamurugan, a Virudhunagar based advocate, submitted that attacks by the Sri Lankan Navy on Indian fishermen in the country's territorial waters continued despite an assurance given to the court earlier that the Coast Guard and Navy would provide adequate security to them.

The high court bench, during a hearing on February 20, was assured by the government that adequate protection would be given to fishermen within India's territorial waters. But the government neither deployed any ship nor forces from the Indian Coast Guard or Navy to give protection to the fishermen, the petitioner charged.

The petitioner alleged that due to the "wilful and wanton disobedience" of the officials, 33 maritime crimes had been committed by Sri Lankan Navy in Indian waters,resulting in injury to 708 fishermen and damage to 445 boats and nets.