New Delhi:
The Supreme Court today sought a response from the Centre and the Kerala Government on the Italian Government's plea to quash criminal cases filed against two of its Marines, accused of killing two Indian fishermen off Kerala coast.
A three-judge bench of justices Altamas Kabir, S S Nijjar and Ranjan Gogoi sought replies within two weeks and posted the matter for further hearing on May 8.
This comes after the Italian Government moved a petition in the Supreme Court through urging it to direct India to hand over the custody of its Marines, Chief Master Sergeant Massimilano Latorre and Sergeant Salvatore Girone, to the Italian government.
The two Marines had allegedly mistaken Indian fishermen Ajesh Binki, aged 25, and Gelastine, aged 45, as sea pirates and shot them February 15 this year, off Alappuzha coast in Kerala.
In its petition filed under Article 32, the Italian Government asserted that the Kerala Government has no locus standi to register any criminal case as the alleged offence ought to be treated under international law and covenants as India is a signatory to the United Nations charter.
The accused have been in judicial custody since February 20 and are currently lodged at the Thiruvananthapuram Central Prison.