Centre moves SC, seeks closure of Italy Marines’ case

India on Friday told the Supreme Court that it “accepts and abides” by the International Tribunal on Law of the Sea (ITLOS) award holding that two Italian marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen off a Kerala coast will face trial in Italy, as it sought the disposal of the matters relating to the case before the top court.

ITLOS by its May 21, 2020, award had said that two Italian marines — Chief Master Sergeant Massimiliano Latorre and Sergeant Major Salvatore Girone, accused of allegedly killing two Indian fishermen will face trial in Italy.

Both Latorre and Girone are accused of killing two fishermen in February 15, 2012 off a Kerala coast, allegedly mistaking them as sea pirates.

Leaving nothing to ambiguity that matter stands closed, the application moved by the Centre on Friday said, “The Republic of India has taken a decision to accept and abide by the Award passed by the said tribunal which would have the bearing on the continuance of present proceedings” before the Supreme

Court.

The Centre urged the top court to dispose of the matter involving Italian marines — Chief Master Sergeant Massimiliano Latorre and Sergeant Major Salvatore Girone — in the light of May 21, 2020, ITLOS award,

The Centre added, “India being a party to the UNCLOS, in accordance with the provisions of the United Nation Convention on the Law of Sea (UNCLOS) and the Rules of Procedure agreed by the Parties, the Award is final and without appeal and shall be complied with by the parties to the dispute...”

The Centre has filed the application in pursuance to March 6, 2017, top court directing the Centre to place on record the Award (then to be) passed by the Arbitral Tribunal constituted under UNCLOS.

As the matter had travelled to ITLOS on the initiative of the Italian government, the top court by its August 26, 2015, order had stayed all the proceedings pending before it.

◗ THE INTERNATIONAL Tribunal on Law of the Sea has said that 2 Italian marines, accused of allegedly killing two Indian fishermen, will face trial in Italy