Fishermen plea to attend Katchatheevu fest in country boats dismissed

The petitioner Brinso Raymond of Olaikuda in Rameswaram, in his petition, said that though the Indian government ceded Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka in 1974 the state fishermen were enjoying rights of attending the annual festival of the church which is scheduled on March 11 and 12 this year. 

Earlier the fishermen were allowed to sail in their own country boats but when the permission given to participate in the festival was regulated by the government many restrictions including banning of usage of country boats were brought. 

Now only about 100 mechanised boats were allowed for which the fishermen were asked to pay travel fee of Rs.1300 including administrative expenses of Rs.300 said the petitioner. When the country boats were allowed, there were no untoward incidents and moreover many devotees could not afford to pay the travel fee fixed. 

Apart from that Rev Father L Sahayaraj of Rameswaram was appointed as coordinator of the event but he was allegedly acting in a biased manner and was choosing the participants and boats at his whims and fancies, said the petitioner.

In the argument, the PP claimed that travel in country boat had been banned as the sea was rough. Hearing the case, Judges said the ban on country boats will not be revoked and disposed the petition. However they had directed the Ramanathapuram Collector to consider the appointment of Rev Father L Sahayaraj and directed the Collector to reply within three days.