The issue of Katchatheevu holds significant political and emotional weight in Tamil Nadu, with successive governments and leaders advocating for its retrieval and the restoration of fishing rights for Tamil fishermen.

• The decision to "cede" Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka in 1974 without consulting the Tamil Nadu state assembly sparked immediate protests. This decision was seen as infringing on traditional fishing rights and livelihoods of Indian Tamil fishermen, given the historical ties of the Ramnad Zamindari to the island.
• The Tamil Nadu Assembly has consistently demanded the retrieval of Katchatheevu and the restoration of fishing rights. Leaders like J Jayalalitha and MK Stalin, among others, have actively pursued this agenda through legal and diplomatic channels.
• In 2008, Jayalalitha filed a petition arguing that ceding Katchatheevu required a constitutional amendment and had adversely affected fishermen's rights. Similar efforts were made by other leaders, including appeals to the Supreme Court.
• Despite Tamil Nadu's persistent demands, the Union government's stance has remained unchanged. It asserts that since Katchatheevu has been under dispute historically, no territorial or sovereignty claims were ceded.
• While there is vocal demand for Katchatheevu's retrieval, practical challenges hinder such efforts. The Union government has pointed out that revisiting Katchatheevu's status would require drastic measures, potentially leading to diplomatic complexities or conflict.

5. Solution towards Katchatheevu Dispute

• The exploration into this topic by the author commenced in the early 1990s with the aim of finding a peaceful resolution to safeguard the fishermen's livelihoods. A significant challenge encountered was the unavailability of primary sources concerning Katchatheevu, as they had been relocated to New Delhi. Given the absence of a Right to Information Act at the time, the author had to rely on secondary sources and interviews with key figures.
• In 1974, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, then in the Opposition, likened the transfer of Katchatheevu to a philanthropic act ("Bhoodan") during a debate in the Lok Sabha. He urged BJP leader Jana Krishnamurthy to pursue legal recourse by filing a case in the Madras High Court.
• However, Jana's appeal was dismissed due to a lack of evidence substantiating Katchatheevu's historical status as part of the Zamindari of the Raja of Ramnad and its subsequent integration into the Madras Presidency following the Zamindari's abolition.
• After thorough consideration of the advantages and disadvantages, the author proposed two solutions. Firstly, to negotiate the return of Katchatheevu on a perpetual lease, akin to the Tin Bigha agreement in reverse.
• This arrangement would affirm Sri Lanka's sovereignty over the island while granting India fishing rights in the surrounding waters under the lease. Secondly, to allow Indian fishermen access to fish in Sri Lankan waters up to a distance of five nautical miles. This suggestion was based on a precedent set by the 1976 Agreement, which permitted Sri Lankan fishermen to operate near the Wadge Bank near Kanniyakumari for a limited period.
• Although the Tamil Nadu governments, led by both the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, endorsed the author's proposals, the primary obstacle remained New Delhi's reluctance to reopen discussions on the matter.
• It is noteworthy to highlight that during the 1960s and 1970s, India faced severe financial constraints, prompting Indira Gandhi's administration to incentivize ventures that generated foreign exchange.
• Prawns emerged as a lucrative commodity in international markets, particularly in Japan and Europe. Consequently, bottom trawlers were introduced in the Palk Bay, capitalizing on the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka.
• The ban on fishing imposed by the Sri Lankan government prompted Tamil fishermen from Sri Lanka to seek refuge in India.
• Employed by trawler owners, these refugees facilitated Indian fishermen's incursion into Sri Lankan waters.
• While India's foreign exchange earnings surged, primarily attributed to prawns caught in Sri Lankan waters, the use of bottom trawlers inflicted significant damage to the seabed, depleting fish stocks on the Indian side of the Palk Bay.
• Sri Lankan fishermen voiced concerns over the adverse impact of Indian trawlers on their marine ecosystem, leading to the prohibition of bottom trawling in Sri Lanka.
• The imperative of fostering positive personal relations with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mrs. Bandaranaike underscored India's Sri Lanka policy. By early 1974, Mrs. Gandhi was inclined to cede Katchatheevu.
• According to S.P. Jagota, then Director of the Legal and Treaties Division, Mrs. Gandhi disregarded the advice of senior officials and was even willing to adjust the median line to ensure Katchatheevu fell within Sri Lankan territory.
• However, the Agreement relinquished India's right to continue fishing in the waters surrounding the island, as stipulated in the 1976 Agreement