Supreme Court orders compensation to fishermen in the Italian marine case

Supreme Court orders compensation to fishermen in the Italian marine case

They were returning from a fishing expedition near Lakshadweep islands in 2012

Modifying its June 2021 order, the Supreme Court has directed that a compensation of Rs.5 lakh each should be paid to the seven applicants, apart from two fishermen on the Indian vessel St. Antony.

In 2012, two Italian marines on board the oil tanker Enrica Lexie had fired on the Indian boat leading to the death of two fishermen.

The Permanent Court of International Justice had directed Italy to compensate India under four heads. One of those was "moral harm suffered by the captain and other crew members of St. Antony."

However, in June 2021, the apex court directed compensation only to the heirs of the two deceased fishermen and the boat owner.

Thereafter, seven fishermen, who were a part of the Indian boat crew, filed an intervention application, along with applications for appropriate directions for compensation to them also.

In August 2021, the top court passed an order directing a stay on the disbursement of compensation to the boat owner pending adjudication of the applications.

On behalf of the fishermen, the applications were drafted by Kochhar & Co partners Krishna Vijay Singh and Manish Dembla and argued by the latter before the court.

Kochhar & Co assisted the fishermen pro bono as a part of its policy to provide access to justice to the economically weaker sections of society.