HC imposes costs on Centre for not filing counter

The Madras High Court today imposed costs of Rs 10,000 on the Centre for not filing a counter in a case challenging guidelines issued by the government on restricting size of vessels venturing for deep sea fishing.
Expressing its displeasure over the non-filing of the counter, the First Bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice T S Sivagnanam, imposed costs on the Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries and posted the matter for further hearing to September 22.
Fisherman Care Association had filed a PIL claiming that the new guidelines change the definition of deep sea fishing vessels reducing the overall length to 15 metres from 20 metres as prescribed under the original guidelines in 2004 and wanted it to be withdrawn.

When the matter came up, the state government informed the court that the guidelines issued by the central government asking fishermen to obtain letter of permission for fishing activity by vessels of 15 metres overall length and above was "highly impractical" and triggered protests from the fishermen community not only in the state but also in the country.
The counter filed by state Additional Secretary, Animal Husbandry Dairying and Fisheries Department, said of 5500 mechanised fishing boats available in Tamil Nadu, more than 80 per cent of the boats were above 15 metre overall length engaged in daily fishing.
Counsel for Fisherman Care had submitted earlier that the Centre's order on November 12, 2014, for conduct of fishing operations in Indian Exclusive Economic Zone may be withdrawn and new fisheries legislation may be enacted for fisheries development on the line of the recommendations of the Murari Committee report.