The Supreme Court of India has scheduled a final hearing for September 15, 2025, to address petitions challenging the 1974 and 1976 agreements that ceded the Katchatheevu islet to Sri Lanka.
This decision follows the court's approval for Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader T.R. Baalu to replace the late former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi as the petitioner in the longstanding case.
Katchatheevu is a 285-acre uninhabited island located in the Palk Strait between Tamil Nadu and Tamil Eelam. Historically, both India and Sri Lanka claimed sovereignty over the island, leading to prolonged disputes. In 1974, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike signed a maritime agreement, placing Katchatheevu under Sri Lankan control. A subsequent agreement in 1976 further delineated fishing rights, prohibiting Indian fishermen from fishing in Sri Lankan waters, including those surrounding Katchatheevu.
The cession of Katchatheevu has been a contentious issue in Tamil Nadu politics. In 1991, the Tamil Nadu Assembly adopted a resolution demanding the retrieval of the island. In 2008, Tamil Nadu filed a petition in court, arguing that Katchatheevu could not be ceded to another country without a constitutional amendment. The matter gained renewed attention in April 2024 when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized the 1974 decision, stating that new revelations about the agreement were "eye opening and startling," and accused the Congress party of "callously" giving away Katchatheevu.
The upcoming Supreme Court hearing is anticipated to address the constitutionality of the agreements and their implications on India's territorial sovereignty and the rights of Tamil Nadu fishermen.
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