New Delhi:The Supreme Court on Monday has asked the owners of the fishing boat St Antony, which was attacked in the sea by Italian marines in 2012, to file a response to the plea by seven crew members who have sought compensation out of the Rs. 2 crore that was deposited by the Republic of Italy as redressal.
While hearing an application filed by the seven fishermen who were on board of St Antony, the court gave three weeks time to the respondents to file a response to the plea. Two fishermen onboard St Antony were shot dead by two marines of Enrica Lexie — a tanker — after it mistook the fishing vessel for a pirate boat on February 15, 2012.
Last year, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) under the United Nations Convention of Law of Seas had ruled that India was entitled to claim compensation from Italy, however, it added that has no jurisdiction to launch criminal prosecution against the Marines since the duo is covered by sovereign immunity. Later, the Union Government accepted an award by the International Tribunal and sought the Supreme Court to quash the case against the two Italians.
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