Country boats to fest: Madurai Bench of Madras HC seeks TN's reply
For centuries, the fishermen used both country-made boats fitted with motors and mechanised boats for ferrying people to the island.
Madurai: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday directed the fisheries department and Ramanathapuram collector to file their response on a petition seeking to allow the fishermen to use country-made boats fitted with motors to ferry pilgrims to Katchatheevu Island to participate in the annual St. Antony’s church festival.
Princo Pemond from Olaikuda village in Ramanthapuram filed a petition before the court stating that festival coordinator priest S. Sagayaraj, coordinator of St. Joseph’s Church, Veerakudu has granted permission only for 100 mechanised boats to ferry pilgrims to Kachatheevu.
For centuries, the fishermen used both country-made boats fitted with motors and mechanised boats for ferrying people to the island. However, for the past few years, the coordinator of the festival was not allowing the country-made boats to ferry pilgrims, he contended.
Moreover, the mechanised boats charge Rs 1,300 to ferry each fisherman to the festival, which deprives poor fishermen from participating in the ceremony, the petitioner said.