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The Supreme Court on 2 September 2026 directed the Tamil Nadu government to frame rules designating a specified channel through which fishing vessels carrying purse seine nets may transit territorial waters to reach the Exclusive Economic Zone.
The bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe was hearing Fisherman Care v. Union of India, reported as 2026 INSC 937.
The Court held that prolonged delay in processing access-pass applications virtually amounts to an unwritten ban, which is impermissible in law, and touches the Article 19(1)(g) right to carry on an occupation or trade.
As of 3 August 2026, only six access passes had been issued against 257 applications, with 226 still pending - described as the lowest among all coastal States.
The Court found no conflict between the central Exclusive Economic Zone fisheries rules of 2025 and the Tamil Nadu Marine Fishing Regulation Rules, 2020, and asked the Union and the State to act on the principle of cooperative federalism.
Guarantees the right to practise any profession or carry on any occupation, trade or business; the Court read prolonged administrative delay as an unwritten restriction on this right.
State rules governing fishing within territorial waters; Rules 15(5) and 15(6) allow the State to designate a specified channel for transit.
Central rules governing fishing beyond territorial waters; the Court held there is no conflict between these and the State rules.
Provides the maritime zones India follows - territorial waters up to 12 nautical miles, the EEZ up to 200 nautical miles from the baseline.
India's territorial waters run to 12 nautical miles from the baseline; within them the State government regulates fishing under its own marine fishing regulation law. Beyond that, out to 200 nautical miles, lies the Exclusive Economic Zone, where India holds sovereign rights over exploration and exploitation of marine resources and where fishing is regulated by central rules. The two regimes meet awkwardly for a vessel that is legal in one zone and not in the other, which is precisely the gap the Court was asked to close. Its answer was not to strike either regime down but to require the State to designate a transit corridor, an application of what the judgment called cooperative federalism.
Simple Analogy: The vessel is allowed to work in the outer field but must drive through a village where its equipment is banned; the Court told the village to mark a road through, not to lift the ban.
GS Paper 2 > Polity; fundamental rights, Centre-State relations, judicial pronouncements
General Awareness - Supreme Court judgments and the Constitution
General Awareness - current affairs
With reference to the Constitution of India, prohibitions or limitations or provisions contained in ordinary laws cannot act as prohibitions or limitations on the constitutional powers under Article 142. It could mean which one of the following?
Answer: The Supreme Court of India is not constrained in the exercise of its powers by laws made by the Parliament.
With reference to the Constitution of India, consider the following statements: 1. No High Court shall have the jurisdiction to declare any central law to be constitutionally invalid. 2. An amendment to the Constitution of India cannot be called into question by the Supreme Court of India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: Neither 1 nor 2
The power of the Supreme Court of India to decide disputes between the Centre and the States falls under its
Answer: original jurisdiction
Who/Which of the following is the custodian of the Constitution of India?
Answer: The Supreme Court of India
In India, Judicial Review implies
Answer: the power of the Judiciary to pronounce upon the constitutionality of laws and executive orders.
A large net that encircles a school of fish and is then drawn closed at the bottom like a purse; efficient, and restricted in several Indian States for that reason.
The maritime belt up to 200 nautical miles from the baseline in which a coastal State has sovereign rights over exploration and exploitation of marine resources.
Coordination between the Union and the States in areas of shared administrative responsibility, rather than each acting within its own sphere alone.
Registration and Licensing of Fishing Craft - the Department of Fisheries portal used for registering fishing vessels and processing licences.