SC notice to Centre, Kerala on Italian government's plea

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today sought responses of the Centre and the Kerala government on Italian government's plea to quash the ongoing trial of two of its marines for allegedly gunning down two Indian fishermen off the southern state's coast in February this year.

A bench of justices Altamas Kabir and J Chelameswar also issued notices to the Centre and the state government on the plea, which also sought a stay on all criminal proceedings against the two Italian Naval officers, Chief Sargeant Massimilano Lattore and Sargeant Salvatore Girone.

As senior counsel Harish Salve, appearing for the Italian government, pleaded for an interim stay, the apex court said it would have to hear the Union and the state governments before passing any orders and issued notice on plea for the stay. It posted the matter for August 6 for deciding on stay.

The bench also asked the Centre and the state to file their replies within three weeks on the Italian government's plea for quashing the criminal cases.

Additional Solicitor General Indira Jaising, who appeared on behalf of the Centre, wanted that notices should be issued also to the widows of the fishermen but the court said it was not inclined to do so at this stage.

The bench said it may issue notices if and when their presence was required.

Jaising argued that since there were allegations that the consent of the fishermen's widows were obtained by "illegal means," it would not be proper if the court did not issue them notices.

"It is their husbands who have died," she submitted. The bench, however, was not convinced by her argument and refused to issue notices at present.