Madras HC orders notice on PIL seeking compensation

The Madras High Court has ordered notice to the authorities on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition by fishermen, seeking a direction for the payment of compensation for banning fishing activities in and around Pulicat and Ennore for 15 days whenever rockets were launched from Sriharikota.

In the petition, the South Indian Fishermen Federation said there were 16 fishing villages in Pulicat and 13 in Ennore. All these hamlets depended only on marine fishing.

While admitting the PIL, first bench comprising Chief Justice H L Gokhale and Justice D Murugesan ordered notice to Central and state government, returnable within two weeks.

According to the petition, fishermen of Pulicat and Ennore were often banned from fishing whenever a rocket was to be launched from Sriharikota. Emergency circulars were sent via the Fisheries Department, imposing a ban on fishing from Ennore to Sriharikota, considering this as danger zone. The ban was normally for 15 to 20 days. Because of the ban, the fishermen families suffered.

The federation said fishermen should not be prevented from fishing except on the dates rockets were launched.