DMK leader M Karunanidhi has moved the apex court by way of a public interest litigation petition seeking a writ of declaration to declare the agreement between India and Sri Lanka dated June 26 and 28, 1974 and the agreement dated March 23, 1976 over Katchativu as unconstitutional and non est in law.
Making the Cabinet Secretary, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Ministry of External Affairs, Chief Secretary, Tamil Nadu and the Collector, Ramanthapuram as respondents, Karunanidhi also sought a direction to the Cabinet Secretary to retrieve the island of Katchativu as part of TN and an integral part of India. He also sought a a direction to the respondents to protect the historic fishing rights and other traditional rights of TN fishermen in the waters of Palk strait and Palk Bay and the waters around the Island of Katchativu.
He also sought a direction to the Cabinet Secretary to pay compensation for the loss of life and property suffered by the fishermen by the systematic attacks on them.