Kochi: Kerala High Court on Wednesday upheld a central government order banning the export of shark fins. Justice A. Muhamed Mustaque passed the judgment while dismissing a writ petition filed by Bijumon of Kochi, a seafood exporter, challenging the order.
“The centre had deliberated the issue and relevant factors have been taken into account for the decision. The rationality of the decision could not be adjudged on a proof of validity as a pre-requisite,” the bench observed.
The court also said that the policy-makers might have thought that consequent upon the ban, the necessity of capturing sharks would dwindle and they may achieve its objective to protect marine environment. These objectives cannot be termed as irrational.
The court couldn’t embark upon any enquiry to find out whether this would yield any desired results or not. Therefore, there was no scope for the court to sit upon the wisdom of the policy-making, it said.
Assistant Solicitor-General of India, Nagaresh submitted that fishermen are involved in a gruesome practice of fining of sharks, resulting in the decline in the shark population. The decision was taken to prevent the degradation of marine environment.
