Thirumurugan v. The Principal Secretary to Government

ORDER (Order of the Court was made by C.V.Karthikeyan J.) This writ petition is filed in the nature of a mandamus seeking a direction against the first and second respondents, Principal Secretary to Government, Home Department and the Principal Secretary to Government, Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare Department to enhance the compensation payable to Marine Fishermen during the fishing ban from 15.04.2026 to 14.06.2026 in East Coast Fishing and between 01.06.2026 and 31.07.2026 in Arabian Sea Coast and direct to provide a minimum relief assistance of Rs.20,000/- per month to every registered marine fisherman and fisherman family.

2.The petitioner is an Advocate practising before this court. But however, he espouses the cause of fishermen. It is a noble cause. He seeks enhancement of the compensation being now provided at Rs.8,000/- per month to Rs.20,000/- during the statutory ban from 15.04.2026 to 14.06.2026 in the East Coast Page6 of 11 Fishing and between 01.06.2026 and 31.07.2026 in Arabian Sea Coast. It is contended that other States are providing higher compensation more than Rs.8000/- per month, which is being provided by the State of Tamil Nadu.

3.This is entirely a policy decision to be taken by the Government. That would also depend on the number of eligible fishermen, who have been sensitised to get registered. It will also depend on the financial capacity of the State. All these factors will have to be taken into consideration before there could be any direction issued by the Court, which cannot take upon itself to be competent enough to decide this issue. The Court can only state that an appropriate decision must be taken by the respondents with respect to the compensation payable.

4.At any rate, for the present year, the fishing ban period has ended and therefore, the decision could be taken only for the next year. The Government may take a decision to increase the compensation. They may take a decision not to increase the compensation. They may take a decision to increase the compensation to an amount lesser than Rs.20,000/-. They may also take a decision to increase the compensation to an amount higher than Rs,20,000/. It is entirely the prerogative of the Government. Page7 of 11

5.This writ petition stands dismissed. There shall be no orders as to costs. (C.V.K.,J.) (R.S.V.,J.) 13-07-2026 Index : Yes NCC : Yes ta To

¶1The Principal Secretary to Government Home Department, Fort St.George, Chennai 600009.

¶2The Principal Secretary to Government, Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare Department, Fort St.George, Chennai 600009

¶3The Secretary to Government, Finance Department, Fort St.George, Chennai 600009

¶4The Commissioner of Revenue Administration and Disaster Management, Ezhilagam, Chepauk, Chennai 600005

¶5The Director of Fisheries, Directorate of Fisheries, Integrated Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Department Complex, Nandanam, Chennai 600035

¶6The Commissioner of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare, Welfare, Integrated Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Department Complex, Nandanam, Chennai 600035

¶7The District Collector, Collectorate Office, Kanniyakumari District Nagercoil 629 001 Page8 of 11

¶8The District Collector, Collectorate Office, Tirunelveli District, Tirunelveli 627 009

¶9The District Collector, Collectorate Office, Thoothukudi District, Thoothukudi 628 101

10.The District Collector, Collectorate Office, Ramanathapuram District, Ramanathapuram 623 503

11.The District Collector, Collectorate office, Pudukkottai District, Pudukkottai 622001

12.The District Collector, Collectorate Office, Thanjavur District, Thanjavur 613 010

13.The District Collector, Collectorate office, Nagapattinam District, Nagapattinam 611003

14.The District Collector, Collectorate Office, Mayiladuthurai District, Mayiladuthurai 609 001

15.The District Collector, Collectorate Office, Tiruvarur District, Tiruvarur 610004

16.The District Collector, Collectorate Office, Cuddalore District, Cuddalore 607 001

17.The District Collector, Collectorate Office, Villupuram District, Villupuram 605602

18.The District Collector, Collectorate Office, Chengalpattu District, Page9 of 11 Chengalpattu 603001

19.The District Collector, Collectorate Office, Tiruvallur District, Tiruvallur 602 001

20.The District Collector, Collectorate office, Chennai District, Chennai 600001

21.The Joint Director/Deputy Director of Fisheries, Welfare, Kanyakumari District, Nagercoil 629

22.The Joint Director/deputy Director Of Fisheries, Welfare, Tirunelveli District, Tirunelveli 627009

23.The Joint Director/deputy Director Of Fisheries , Welfare, Thoothukudi District, Thoothukudi 628 001

24.The Joint Director/deputy Director Of Fisheries, Welfare, Ramanathapuram District, Thoothukudi 628 001

25.The Assistant Director of Fisheries, Welfare, Colachel Fishing Harbour, Colachel, Kanyakumari District 629251

26.The Assistant Director Of Fisheries, Welfare, Thengaipattinam Fishing Harbour, Thengaipattinam, Kanyakumari District 629

27.The Assistant Director Of Fisheries, Page10 of 11 Welfare, Thoothukudi Fishing Harbour, Thengaipattinam,Thoothukudi District 628 001

28.The Assistant Director Of Fisheries, Welfare, Ramanathapuram Fishing Harbour, Ramanathapuram District 623503

29.The Assistant Director Of Fisheries, Welfare, Nagapattinam Fishing Harbour, Nagapattinam District 611001

30.The Assistant Director Of Fisheries, Welfare, Cuddalore Fishing Harbour, Cuddalore District 607 003

31.The Assistant Director Of Fisheries, Welfare, Chennai Fishing Harbour, Kasimedu, Chennai 600013 WP(MD)oNo.o15180oofo2026 C.V.KARTHIKEYAN,oJ. AND R.SAKTHIVEL,oJ. ta WP(MD)oNo.o15180oofo2026 13-07-2026 Page11oofo11

Page1 of 11 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 13-07-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE C.V. KARTHIKEYAN AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE R.SAKTHIVEL Thirumurugan ..Petitioner(s) Vs 1. The Principal Secretary to Government Home Department, Fort St.George, Chennai 600009. 2. The Principal Secretary to Government, Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare Department, Fort St.George, Chennai 600009 3. The Secretary to Government, Finance Department, Fort St.George, Chennai 600009 4. The Commissioner of Revenue Administration and Disaster Management, Ezhilagam, Chepauk, Chennai 600005 5. The Director of Fisheries, Directorate of Fisheries, Integrated Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Department Complex, Nandanam, Chennai 600035 6. The Commissioner of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare, Welfare, Integrated Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Department Complex, Nandanam, Chennai 600035 Page2 of 11 7. The District Collector, Collectorate Office, Kanniyakumari District Nagercoil 629 001 8. The District Collector, Collectorate Office, Tirunelveli District, Tirunelveli 627 009 9. The District Collector, Collectorate Office, Thoothukudi District, Thoothukudi 628 101 10.The District Collector, Collectorate Office, Ramanathapuram District, Ramanathapuram 623 503 11.The District Collector, Collectorate office, Pudukkottai District, Pudukkottai 622001 12.The District Collector, Collectorate Office, Thanjavur District, Thanjavur-613 010 13.The District Collector, Collectorate office, Nagapattinam District, Nagapattinam 611003 14.The District Collector, Collectorate Office, Mayiladuthurai District, Mayiladuthurai 609 001 15.The District Collector, Collectorate Office, Tiruvarur District, Tiruvarur 610004 16.The District Collector, Collectorate Office, Cuddalore District, Cuddalore 607 001 Page3 of 11 17.The District Collector, Collectorate Office, Villupuram District, Villupuram 605602 18.The District Collector, Collectorate Office, Chengalpattu District, Chengalpattu 603001 19.The District Collector, Collectorate Office, Tiruvallur District, Tiruvallur 602 001 20.The District Collector, Collectorate office, Chennai District, Chennai 600001 21.The Joint Director/Deputy Director of Fisheries, Welfare, Kanyakumari District, Nagercoil 629 001 22.The Joint Director/deputy Director Of Fisheries, Welfare, Tirunelveli District, Tirunelveli 627009 23.The Joint Director/deputy Director Of Fisheries, Welfare, Thoothukudi District, Thoothukudi 628 001. 24.The Joint Director/deputy Director Of Fisheries, Welfare, Ramanathapuram District, Thoothukudi 623 503. 25.The Assistant Director of Fisheries, Welfare, Colachel Fishing Harbour, Colachel, Kanyakumari District 629251. Page4 of 11 26.The Assistant Director Of Fisheries, Welfare, Thengaipattinam Fishing Harbour, Thengaipattinam, Kanyakumari District 629 173. 27.The Assistant Director Of Fisheries, Welfare, Thoothukudi Fishing Harbour, Thengaipattinam,Thoothukudi District 628 001 28.The Assistant Director Of Fisheries, Welfare, Ramanathapuram Fishing Harbour, Ramanathapuram District 623503. 29.The Assistant Director Of Fisheries, Welfare, Nagapattinam Fishing Harbour, Nagapattinam District 611001. 30.The Assistant Director Of Fisheries, Welfare, Cuddalore Fishing Harbour, Cuddalore District 607 003. 31.The Assistant Director Of Fisheries, Welfare, Chennai Fishing Harbour, Kasimedu, Chennai 600013. ..Respondent(s) Writ Petition, filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this court to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents 1-2 to enhance the fishing ban period relief compensation payable to marine fishermen in Tamil Nadu during the annual statutory fishing ban periods including the East Coast Fishing ban period 15.04.2026 to 14.06.2026 and the west coast fishing ban period applicable to Arabian Sea coastal fisherman of Kanyakumari District Page5 of 11 from 01.06.2026 to 31.07.2026 and consequently direct the respondents to provide a minimum relief assistance of Rs.20,000/- per month to