The Madurai bench of the Madras high court on Thursday dismissed a petition that stated that a Sri Lankan court could not try the case of five Indian fishermen who were sentenced to death for smuggling narcotics.

The petition had also sought the high court's intervention to get the five fishermen -- Emerson, Agastas, Wilson, Prasath and Langlet -- transferred to the Madurai central prison in accordance with a treaty between the two nations.

When the petition filed by Virudhunagar-based advocate S M Anandamurugan came up for hearing, the division bench of justices V Dhanapalan and V M Velumani said the matter could not be filed in the nature of a petition.

Following it, the petitioner's side expressed willingness to withdraw the petition.
(Times Of India)