Island ceding challenged in 2008 itself

Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Saturday said the State government will move the Supreme Court with a plea to expedite the case against the ceding of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka.

Jayalalithaa pointed out that in 2008, citing a 1960 verdict of the Supreme Court, which had said ceding of any territory belonging to the nation could be done only after amending the Constitution with the approval of both the houses of Parliament, she had filed a case arguing that the agreements pertaining to Katchatheevu were illegal.

After the AIADMK government returned to power in 2011, the Revenue Department of the State government was asked to implead itself in the case through a resolution in the Assembly.

The Chief Minister said given the fact that attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy were continuing, it has been decided to file a petition urging the SC to take up the matter immediately.