SC suspends all proceedings against Italian marines

The trial of two Italian marines - Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone - accused of killing two fishermen off the Kerala coast on 15 February 2012 is showing no signs of getting under way almost four years after the incident, as it is yet to be decided which country has the right to conduct the proceedings.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday suspended all proceedings in the case and adjourned the hearing to 13 January 2016 after India and Italy informed the bench that the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) in Hamburg had directed that ''as part of provisional measures'', both Italy and India shall suspend all court proceedings relating to the matter.

A three-judge bench comprising justices A R Dave, Kurian Joseph and Amitava Roy allowed the joint request of India and Italy that the proceedings here be stayed.

While Additional Solicitor General P S Narasimha appeared for the Centre, senior advocate Soli Sorabji represented the marines.

The ITLOS had earlier directed India and Italy to refrain from initiating new court proceedings ''which might aggravate or extend the dispute submitted to the Annex VII arbitral tribunal or might jeopardise or prejudice the carrying out of any decision which the arbitral tribunal may render''.

The Italian marines operating as part of an anti-piracy Vessel Protection Detachment on-board Italian-flagged commercial oil tanker M T Enrica Lexie are accused of opening fire on a fishing boat 'St Antony,  killing two Indian fishermen on board under the misconception that they were pirates.

Sorabjee submitted that Italy has invoked international arbitration challenging India's jurisdiction to try two of its marines. The ASG had said that India, being a signatory to the International Convention, would participate in the arbitration proceedings. The Modi government however, had asserted that India had jurisdiction to try the marines as the alleged offence had taken place in the Indian waters.

Meanwhile, the court had extended the stay of Latorre, who underwent a heart surgery in Italy, by another six months and had asked him to file an undertaking that he would abide by its conditions within a week.

The six-month extension began from 15 July.

Latorre, who had suffered a brain stroke on 31 August last year, was allowed by the apex court on 12 September last to go to Italy for four months.

Earlier, the apex court had taken on record an unequivocal and unambiguous undertaking by Latorre regarding the dates of departure and arrival back to India. It had also taken on record the undertaking furnished by the Italian Ambassador on behalf of his country that the ailing marine would abide by all terms and conditions set for his travel to his native land.