The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday (August 10, 2026) sought the response from the Central government to a public interest litigation petition seeking a direction to the government to secure the immediate release of 24 Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu who were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy in recent times.

The notice was ordered by a Division Bench of Justices C.V. Karthikeyan and R. Sakthivel, which was hearing a petition filed by advocate Theeran Thirumurugan of Madurai. The petitioner said he, along with the members of Tamil Nadu Meenavar Urimai Padhugappu Iyakkam and the Fishermen Wing of Naam Tamilar Katchi, met several fishermen who had been released to ascertain the prevailing situation concerning the other fishermen from Tamil Nadu in Sri Lankan custody.

He said they were informed that 24 fishermen from Tamil Nadu continued to remain in Sri Lankan custody. The fishermen were desperately awaiting their release and repatriation.

The petitioner sought the immediate diplomatic, consular and administrative intervention for securing the release and the safe repatriation of the fishermen currently detained in Sri Lankan prisons.

The continued detention of the fishermen assumed even greater urgency in view of the deteriorating security situation prevailing in Sri Lankan prisons, thereby making the immediate intervention by the authorities imperative in order to safeguard their life, liberty and safety, he said.

The court posted the matter for hearing to September 1.

Published - August 10, 2026 08:38 pm IST