Thiruvananthapuram: Attachment proceedings will begin against the Indian Coast Guard on Monday for failing to pay court-awarded compensation to a fisherman nearly 19 years after his boat allegedly sank in a collision with one of its vessels off the Vizhinjam coast.The Neyyattinkara Sub Court ordered the attachment of the vessel on an execution petition filed by Paniyadima, a fisherman from Pallithura, who has been pursuing the case since the Nov 2007 incident.An initial attempt to execute the order was made on Saturday when court amin Ratheesh Kumar visited the Coast Guard station. “The proceedings could not be completed as senior officials were not available. They are likely to be carried out on Monday,” he said.
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According to Paniyadima’s petition, his fishing boat, Annai Devadanam, was hit by Indian Coast Guard vessel C-34 on Nov 7, 2007, while the Coast Guard vessel was reversing during a patrol manoeuvre. The boat, which was preparing to leave Vizhinjam harbour for fishing, sank, causing substantial financial losses.Paniyadima moved the Neyyattinkara Sub Court seeking around Rs 30 lakh in compensation for the loss of the boat and related damages. The court ruled in his favour, and with accrued interest, the amount payable rose to nearly Rs 41 lakh.“I have been fighting this case for almost two decades. The court awarded compensation in my favour, but I have not received the amount. I had no option but to seek execution of the decree. I only want the court’s order to be implemented,” Paniyadima said, adding that the prolonged legal battle caused him severe financial hardship.The Indian Coast Guard, however, denied receiving any communication regarding the attachment proceedings. “We have not received any order from the court. No court officials have visited the Coast Guard station in connection with any attachment proceedings, and no such proceedings have been communicated to us,” an official said.
