The resurgence of the debate over Katchatheevu by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister has brought back into focus a long-standing bone of contention between India and Sri Lanka. This controversy primarily revolves around fishing rights and sovereignty over the uninhabited island.
Historical Background of Katchatheevu
Spanning 285 acres, Katchatheevu is an uninhabited speck situated in the Palk Strait that lies between India and Sri Lanka. The island is approximately 14 nautical miles off Rameswaram, India. In 1974, a major shift occurred in the ownership of Katchatheevu when Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi (India) and Sirima R.D. Bandaranaike (Sri Lanka) signed an agreement recognizing the island as Sri Lanka’s territory. Besides acknowledging Sri Lanka’s sovereignty over Katchatheevu, the agreement also granted Indian fishermen the right to fish around the island, dry their nets, and allowed Indian pilgrims to visit the Catholic shrine located on the island.
Fishing Rights and Livelihoods on Katchatheevu
Historically, fisherfolk from both India and Sri Lanka have used Katchatheevu for fishing purposes. The 1974 agreement recognized this feature, and a supplemental pact regarding this was later signed in 1976. This later agreement served to define maritime boundaries and exclusive economic zones for both countries. It also imposed restrictions on fishing vessels and fishermen from either nation, prohibiting fishing in each other’s waters without explicit permission from either country.
Position of the Indian Government and Legal Aspects
In 2013, the Indian government made its stance clear stating that the question of retrieval did not arise as no Indian territory was ceded. The Katchatheevu issue was portrayed as a dispute between British India and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), which was resolved through the 1974 and 1976 agreements. It was asserted by the Union government that Katchatheevu is located on the Sri Lankan side of the India-Sri Lanka International Maritime Boundary Line.
Political and Public Sentiment Towards Katchatheevu
Transfer of Katchatheevu spurred opposition and sparked debates in both Indian Houses of Parliament. Tamil Nadu leaders have intermittently raised the call for the retrieval of the island. The nature of this demand has transformed over time, with suggestions of a “lease in perpetuity” meaning a lease deed without any specified time frame for the island.
UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions
Briefly, these questions focused on Elephant Pass, its connection to affairs of Sri Lanka, and the impact of domestic factors on India-Sri Lanka relations. They asked about India’s role in the recent crisis in Sri Lanka, reflecting the long-standing friendship between the two nations.