Italian marines case to be closed after receipt of Rs 10 crore compensation from Italy: SC

The Supreme Court on Friday said that the amount of Rs 10 crore agreed to be paid by Italy as compensation for killing two Indian fishermen off Kerala coast should be deposited with the Government of India and thereafter transferred to the Supreme Court's account.

The case against the two Italian marines, who shot dead the Indian fishermen, will be closed only after the amount reaches the account of the Supreme Court, it said.

"We will ask for the amount to be deposited in this court. Only then we will close the proceedings," the Bench headed by Chief Justice of India, SA Bobde stated, as per a report carried by Bar & Bench.

The direction came after the Italian government informed the apex court that a total amount of Rs 10 crore would be paid in terms of the award by the International Tribunal.

The matter will now be heard next on April 19, 2021.

Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta, representing the Central government, submitted that "Indians are the best negotiators" and that India has "negotiated a good deal".

"They have paid 10 crores more. Victims have accepted it now," said SG Mehta.

Eight months ago, the Centre had informed the apex court about its decision to “accept and abide” by an international tribunal’s award that the Marines, Salvatore Girone and Massimiliano Latorre, should be tried in their native Italy.

The government had explained that India was bound by the award of the arbitral tribunal formed under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The award was “final and without appeal” as India was a party to the UN Convention.

Girone and Latorre, who were detailed on the Italian ship ‘Enrica Lexie’, allegedly shot the fishermen thinking they were ‘pirates’.

India is entitled to compensation for the loss of life. Its freedom and right of navigation was violated by the Marines, the UN tribunal had held.