for more than five decades, fisherfolk from the estuary of Hooghly river in West Bengal have used the uninhabited island of Jambudwip as a seasonal fishing camp. Today, a complex legal wrangle threatens to jeopardise their livelihood. The Central Empowered Committee (cec), constituted by the Supreme Court (sc) has observed that fishing operations in the 20-square-kilometre island are non-forest activities. As per its recommendation, such activities should not be allowed without the Union government's permission. The cec was formed on the basis of a May 9, 2002 sc directive. Its role was to provide advice in the Godavarman vs Union of India case, also referred to as the