New Delhi

Notice to Centre

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Centre on a writ petition filed by AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa to declare unconstitutional the 1974 and 1976 agreements between New Delhi and Colombo on ceding of Katchatheevu, an island off the Rameswaram coast, to Sri Lanka. Earlier, Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan told Harish Salve, appearing for the petitioner: “Though we cannot completely allow your prayers, at least some directions are needed to be issued to protect fishermen.”

Ms. Jayalalithaa highlighted the sufferings of fishermen from Tamil Nadu who inadvertently strayed into the island.

She said that because of the hostile attitude of the Sri Lankan navy, fishermen feared to go fishing as they were either killed or taken into custody if they entered Katchatheevu.

Ms. Jayalalithaa said Katchatheevu was historically part of the Ramnad Raja’s zamindari and later it became part of the Madras Presidency.

The island had always been of strategic importance and special significance for fishing operations in the area. In or around 1921, Sri Lanka started claiming territorial rights over the island without any justification and notwithstanding such claims it continued to be part of India.

Justices Markandey Katju and P. Sathasivam were the other judges on the Bench.

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