A writ petition was filed in the High Court on Thursday seeking to quash the Union government’s order banning fishing in high sea off the State’s coast for 61 days from June 1.
In its petition, the Cochin Traditional Fishermen Association said that under the guise of regulation, the Centre had totally banned fishing for 61 days from June 1 to July 31.
Its action would amount to taking away the right of the fishermen in the State.
The fishermen would be deprived of the right to live guaranteed under Article 19 and 21 of the Constitution. The fishermen, dependent mainly on the catch from the Arabian Sea, could not venture out to sea from June 1 to July 31. If the ban was implemented, the fishermen would have to face starvation for 61 days. The fishermen got 50 per cent catch during the monsoon. Besides, the State government proposed to impose a 47-day fishing ban in the high sea off the coast. The government might issue such a ban order in June.
The petitioner pointed out that while imposing the ban on fishing, the order did not restrict fishing by trawlers in the Arabian Sea. Thus, discrimination had been meted out to the fishermen in the State by allowing trawlers to operate during the ban period. Therefore, the Union government’s action hits Article 14 of the Constitution of India (equality before law).
Centre’s order bans fishing in high sea for 61 days from June 1.
