Supreme Court of India warns fishermen against entering Sri Lankan waters

The Supreme Court of India has advised Indian fishermen to avoid entering Sri Lankan territorial waters near Katchatheevu island to prevent legal jeopardy and arrests by the Sri Lankan Navy. The court's remarks come during hearings regarding writ petitions that challenge the 1974 and 1976 maritime agreements which ceded the island to Sri Lanka.

During the proceedings, the Attorney General noted that depleted fish stocks in Indian waters have driven Tamil Nadu fishermen to venture into Sri Lankan territory. The Attorney General emphasized that the Indian government seeks to maintain an ‘excellent relationship’ with Sri Lanka and expressed concern that continued illegal fishing leads to inevitable arrests.

Legal representatives for the fishermen argued that the original agreements were unconstitutional as they lacked necessary constitutional amendments. The dispute remains a significant point of political and diplomatic friction, particularly for coastal communities in Tamil Nadu who rely on these waters for their livelihoods.