SUPREME COURT STAYS FURTHER DISMANTLING OF INS VIRAAT
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed further dismantling of the decommissioned warship INS Viraat, which was in service with the Indian Navy for nearly three decades, and issued a notice to the Centre on a private firm’s plea to convert the ship into a maritime museum.
A three-judge bench said, “In the meantime, parties are directed to maintain status quo with regard to dismantling/ breaking of the subject-ship known as INS Viraat, as on date.” The plea was filed by the private firm – Envitech Marine Consultants, which had lost the case before the Bombay high court.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed further dismantling of the decommissioned warship INS Viraat, which was in service with the Indian Navy for nearly three decades, and issued a notice to the Centre on a private firm’s plea to convert the ship into a maritime museum.
A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde said, “In the meantime, parties are directed to maintain status quo with regard to dismantling/ breaking of the subject-ship known as INS Viraat, as on date.”
The plea was filed by the private firm – Envitech Marine Consultants Private Limited.
Earlier, the firm had lost the case before the Bombay high court. In an order issued on November 3, 2020, the court had refused to intervene in the matter after the ministry of defence declined a no objection certificate to the company.
In July 2019, the Centre had informed Parliament that the decision to scrap Viraat was taken after due consultation with the Indian Navy.
At an auction held during the same month, the government sold the warship to hree Ram Group of Industries, a shipbreaking firm based in Alang,
Gujarat, for converting it into scrap at a price of ₹38.54 crore.
INS Viraat, India’s first aircraft carrier, was decommissioned in 2017 after it was inducted into the Indian Navy in 1987. It was previously part of the British Royal Navy before it was acquired from the United Kingdom.
Envitech Marine Consultants was represented before the Supreme Court by its managing director Rupali Sharma. The firm had evinced interest of purchasing the ship by offering a premium. But the ship’s new owner had demanded a sum of ₹100 crore.
On Wednesday, the bench, also comprising Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian,
asked Sharma how much the petitioner firm was willing to pay to acquire INS Viraat. Sharma stated that the shipbreaking company had demanded ₹100 crore. The court asked Sharma, “What is the condition of the ship. Has it been dismantled?”
The petitioner informed the bench that 25 per cent of the dismantling was over. However, the hull is still intact, she added.
Before the high court, the ministry had stated that the new owner was not willing to sell the ship. The petitioner firm argued that the ship-breaking firm was willing to sell but in the process of obtaining no-objection certificate, the warship should not be dismantled.:
NEW DELHI: The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) — an umbrella body of around 40 farmer groups — on Wednesday announced a nationwide “rail roko” programme on February 18 as it decided to scale up its agitation against three contentious farm laws at a meeting of its senior representatives.
SKM also said it will hold a candle march and other programmes on February 14 to remember the 40 troopers who were killed in the 2019 Pulwama terror attack; and on February 16, observe the birth anniversary of Sir Chhotu Ram, a prominent pre-independence Jat leader.
“Rail stop programmes will be held on February 18 from 124pm across the country. From February 12, all road toll plazas in Rajasthan will be made toll free,” farmer leader Darshan Pal said in an SKM statement that gave details about their plans.
The decisions came on a day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Lok Sabha that the government has “great respect” for farmers, and attacked the Opposition for “misleading” them on three laws that aim to liberalise the farm sector. Modi, while backing the laws, also reiterated the government’s stand to discuss them clause by clause and make changes, if needed.
“I want to ask all the farmers whether the new law has taken away any right, any system from them. I can understand the Opposition protest if these laws were compulsory. But the new laws are not compulsory for anyone. This is optional and farmers should go where they get more profit. So, there is no reason to protest,” Modi said in the Lower House.
Reacting to PM’S speech, Darshan Pal, said: “PM said he respects farmers which is why ministers have been appointed for talks with farmers. But the truth is that despite 11 rounds of talks, no substantial changes were offered in the laws. He said that farmers are being misled but we have been fighting for issues of farmers and not any other matter. We urge PM to understand our issues.”
On Wednesday, over 40 artists from Punjab performed at the protest sites on the Singhu and Tikri borders, where tens of thousand of farmers have been camped since November 26.
Though the sentiment at the protest sites has largely been against Deep Sidhu, an actorturned-activist who was arrested as one of the alleged perpetrators of the violence at Red Fort on January 26, when a tractor rally organised by the farm unions descended into chaos, a small group of young farmers in Singhu also put up posters in support of Sidhu and asked that the cases against him be withdrawn.
Regarding the posters, an SKM member said they were not associated with the banners. “As far as disagreements with the leadership is concerned [on Deep Sidhu and Lakha Sidhana], people can have their own opinions and they have a right to register dissent.” Sidhu was arrested by Delhi Police on February 9.
Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait, a spokesperson for Bharatiya Kisan Union (Tikait), on Wednesday stressed on the need for unity among farmer groups. “We are united in our struggle against the farm laws and the government should not be under any illusion [of a rift].”
Truth is despite 11 rounds of talks, no substantial changes were offered in the laws DARSHAN PAL, Samyukt Kisan Morcha member