The Union government informed
the Supreme Court that the question of retrieval of Kachchatheevu from Sri Lanka did not arise as no territory
belonging to India was ceded
to Sri Lanka .
Taking on record the Centre’s response to a writ petition filed by Tamil Nadu
Chief Minister Ms. Jayalalithaa seeking retrieval of Kachchatheevu from Sri Lanka , a
Bench of Justices B.S. Chauhan and S.A. Bobde posted the matter for final
hearing to enable Ms. Jayalalithaa to file her rejoinder.
Ms. Jayalalithaa, who filed
the petition in December 2008 as AIADMK general secretary, sought a declaration
as unconstitutional the 1974 and 1976 agreements between New
Delhi and Colombo on ceding of
Kachchatheevu, an island off the Rameswaram coast, to Sri Lanka .
Jayalalithaa’s argument
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Centre’s argument
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The island was historically part of the Ramnad
Raja’s zamindari and later it became part of the Madras Presidency. The
island was always of strategic importance and special significance for
fishing operations in the area. In or around 1921,
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The island was a matter of dispute between British
India and
No territory belonging to
The Centre said as per the two agreements, no
fishing rights in Sri Lankan waters were bestowed to Indian fishermen. Under
the agreements “Indian fishermen and pilgrims will enjoy access to visit
Kachchatheevu and will not be required by
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On the frequent incidents of firing against Indian
(Tamil Nadu) fishermen by
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The Centre said, the government has always taken up
on a priority basis with
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