CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has ordered maintenance of status quo in the matter of shifting the fish market, now existing in the place belonging to Madras Port Trust in Kasimedu, to a new building in the same area.
Justice M Duraiswamy granted the interim injunction while admitting a writ petition from P Arun Kumar and others seeking to restrain the State Fisheries department and the Madras Port Trust by from compelling them to shift the fish market. The judge issued notice to both, returnable by four weeks. Till then status quo shall be maintained, the judge added. The new market is scheduled to be opened on June 15.
According to senior counsel K Doraisamy, the present fish market is an ideal place for conducting smooth business. As per the joint compromise memo entered into between the Port Trust and the petitioners, they should not be disturbed in any way at the fish market near the harbour.
They were under the bona fide impression that the Fisheries department, as claimed by it, was constructing a world class export market. Though the building was inaugurated way back in 2016, it was remaining unoccupied, as it lacked basic infrastructures such as ice factories and cold storage units. There is a space crunch as well.
The Fisheries department is compelling them to shift to the new place. It is also threatening them with cut in diesel concession, Doraisamy contended.