Talks would not affect Katchatheevu case: Tamil Nadu

Talks between the fishing communities of Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka will be carried out without affecting the case filed by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on the Katchatheevu island, the state government said Saturday.

The talks between the two fishing communities will be held here Jan 27, said a statement issued here by the state government.

The talks will be held in a way that would not impact the case filed by Jayalalithaa in the Supreme Court, in which the state government is also a party now.

In 2008, Jayalalithaa filed the case to annul the transfer of Katchatheevu island in Palk Strait to Sri Lanka as it was not ratified by India's parliament.

The 285-acre island is situated on the Sri Lankan side of the maritime boundary.

During the talks, the state's fishermen would stress their traditional fishing rights in the Palk Strait and also on fishing by both the communities on a mutual cooperation basis, the statement said.

Representatives of the Tamil Nadu fishermen would suggest mutually agreeable sustainable fishing practices in the Palk Strait.

The fishermen would also urge Sri Lanka to avoid arrest and detention of Indian fishermen and their boats as agreed to during the earlier talks.

The talks would also focus on the early release of Indian fishermen and their boats arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy.

The state government said the centre has been informed that the resolutions/decisions taken at the meeting will be implemented only after its consent.