The Principal District and Sessions Judge A. Ayyappan has assured the fishermen of coastal villages that immediate action will be taken to check the anti-social activities polluting marine wealth.
Participating at the ‘Legal Awareness and Literacy Campaign’ organised by the District Legal Services Authority and the Aranthagi Taluk Legal Services Committee at Muthukuda, a coastal village, on Saturday, Mr. Ayyappan said that immediate action would be taken to check the pollution of marine wealth.
Earlier, a cross-section of fishermen brought to the notice of the Judge that a few anti-social elements caused a setback in the catch of the fishes by hurling country-bombs in to the sea waters.
The District Munsif and Chairman of Aranthangi Taluk Legal Services Committee, V. P. Velusamy said that the Mediation Centre at Meemisal village, a unit of the Committee, has been resolving the grievances of the fishermen in the coastal villages in the district. Weekly meetings were being held on Saturdays to resolve the disputes. The Committee’s achievement was the restoration of Scheduled Caste status to the local community ‘kadayar’ in Avudayarkovil taluk. The Revenue Department had, till recently had classified the ‘kadayar’ community under the Backward Classes. The Committee’s intervention helped restoration of the Scheduled Caste status to the community.
The Committee has also been resolving amicably petty disputes such as boundary limits and property disputes.
The Sessions Judge Mahila Court, P. Sadayandi, the Additional District and Sessions Judge P. Ayyasamy, the Sub-Judge and Secretary of District Legal Services Authority, C. Kuppusamy and the Judicial Magistrate, Aranthangi, T. Pannerselvam were among those who were present.
Earlier, Mr. Ayyappan visited the Mediation Centre and inspected the proceedings. He appreciated the efforts being taken by the Mediation Centre in ensuring expeditious remedy for fishermen’s disputes.
