The Madras High Court has directed the Fisheries Department to immediately allot shops to fishermen at the newly-constructed fish market in Kasimedu and allow them to do business without hindrance.
Justice M. Duraiswamy passed the direction while vacating status quo ordered on June 12 on a plea moved by about 50 fishermen, including P. Arunkumar of Royapuram, seeking to forebear the government authorities from shifting the Kasimedu fish market to the newly-constructed building.
According to the petitioners, they are into fishing and allied activities for over 45 years, which is the only source of their livelihood. The Kasimedu fish market is their main place of business. It is located on a land owned by the Madras Port Trust.
New market unused
Meanwhile, a proposal was made by the government to construct a world class market in the same area to carry out fish trade. The new market building was built and inaugurated on February 28, 2016. But, due to lack of basic infrastructure, the new market remains unused.
Several representations were made to the department concerned on the need for basic infrastructure and space crunch in the new market, but the Fisheries Department is compelling the fishermen to shift the market to new place, the petitioners said.
When the plea came up for hearing, Additional Advocate General S.T.S. Moorthy submitted that in view of the status quo ordered by the court, the department was not in a position to open the market and allot shops to fishermen.
Senior counsel K. Doraisami appearing for petitioners wanted the court to permit the petitioners to do business in the existing market place till the disposal of the petition.
Recording the submissions, the judge said, the Fisheries Department shall allot the shops to the fishermen forthwith and the allotees be allowed to do business in the new fish market . However, it is open to the petitioners to do their business in the existing fish market till the disposal of the petition, he added.
