Indian sailors missing in Russian waters: Madras high court issues ultimatum to external affairs ministry
Srikkanth D | TNN | Updated: Feb 27, 2019, 15:16 IST
MADURAI: The Madurai bench of the Madras high court on Wednesday warned the secretary to the external affairs ministry to submit a report on the efforts taken to rescue the missing Indian sailors in Russian waters, failing which the secretary should appear before the court to offer an explanation.
The court last week sought the response from the officials of the ministry on the steps taken. On Wednesday, when the petition came up for hearing again, the counsel for the Centre sought more time, at which the court expressed its displeasure.
“More than one month has passed and the whereabouts of the sailors are still unknown,” a division bench of Justice N Kirubakaran and Justice S S Sundar observed and issued an ultimatum to the external affairs ministry.
Two sailors from Tamil Nadu are among those who are yet to be found. The court had earlier asked the director general of shipping whether effective steps had been taken to set up an Indian Maritime Casualty Investigation cell as per the Supreme Court directions and directed the authorities to report on the whereabouts of the missing sailors.
The court was hearing a petition which sought the quick rescue of the Tamil Nadu sailors- Sebastin Britto and Avinash. A liquified petroleum gas (LPG) tanker they were aboard exploded on January 21, when it was off the Kerch Strait in Russia leaving several crew members dead. Bodies of other members were yet to be retrieved.
The court last week sought the response from the officials of the ministry on the steps taken. On Wednesday, when the petition came up for hearing again, the counsel for the Centre sought more time, at which the court expressed its displeasure.
“More than one month has passed and the whereabouts of the sailors are still unknown,” a division bench of Justice N Kirubakaran and Justice S S Sundar observed and issued an ultimatum to the external affairs ministry.
Two sailors from Tamil Nadu are among those who are yet to be found. The court had earlier asked the director general of shipping whether effective steps had been taken to set up an Indian Maritime Casualty Investigation cell as per the Supreme Court directions and directed the authorities to report on the whereabouts of the missing sailors.
The court was hearing a petition which sought the quick rescue of the Tamil Nadu sailors- Sebastin Britto and Avinash. A liquified petroleum gas (LPG) tanker they were aboard exploded on January 21, when it was off the Kerch Strait in Russia leaving several crew members dead. Bodies of other members were yet to be retrieved.
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