HC notice to Centre, TN govt on PIL on minister's statement

The Madras High Court today issued notices to the Central and state government seeking a direction to the External Affairs Minister to clarify his statement in Parliament, which allegedly tarnished the image of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
The First Bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Kumar Agrawal and Justice M Sathyanarayanan ordered notice to secretaries of the External Affairs Ministry, Defence Ministry and Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary on the basis of two PILs filed by Chennai-based 'Fisherman Care'.
President of 'Fisherman Care', L T A Peter Rayan, in his PIL, alleged that the minister in response to a calling attention motion in Rajya Sabha on August 22, 2013 had made a statement that fishermen from Tamil Nadu have been crossing the International Maritime Boundary line.

His statement was in contravention of Article 6 of the 1974 agreement between India and Sri Lanka, he contended.
Observing that the agreement referred to the maritime boundary in the waters between the two countries and related matters, Rayan submitted that the agreement has also received Presidential assent on July 6, 1974.
It guaranteed the rights of Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen to enjoy their traditional rights of fishing in each other's waters, he said.

He also contended that the agreement cannot be annulled by any agreement without Presidential assent.
The Minister, he alleged, had deliberately drawn the house into error, by making such an incorrect and misleading statement, instead of giving protection to Indian fisherman in enjoying their traditional rights.

In another PIL, he sought a direction to the External Affairs Ministry Secretary to take diplomatic steps to release Indian fisherman languishing in Sri Lankan prisons and to take up diplomatically with the Sri Lankan government, the issue of attacks on fishermen from Tamil Nadu to find out a permanent solution.