The Supreme Court on Friday questioned the government as to why it was “dragging its feet” on the issue of setting up a special court for holding trial of two Italian marines, accused of shooting dead two Indian fishermen.
The Supreme Court also took exception to the Centre not following its January 18 direction to consult the Chief Justice of India to set up a special court to try the case.
“Why the Centre is dragging its feet? Nobody has made attempt for consultation for setting up of court,” a bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir said.
The remarks were made after the bench was told that the issue of setting up a special court was under consideration.
“How long will it take? If the court would have been set up, the trial in the case could have been over. Why it is late? It would have by now decided whether they are guilty or not,” the bench, also comprising justices A.R. Dave and Vikramajit Sen, observed during the hearing on the pleas by the two marines seeking to visit their country to cast votes for the upcoming general elections.
The Supreme Court on January 18 had rejected the plea of the Italian government and the two accused marines that Indian courts have no jurisdiction in the case and they should be tried in an Italian court.
It had directed that the accused be shifted to Delhi and be under the ‘custody’ of the Supreme Court till the Centre constitutes a special court to hold their trial.
“Union of India is, therefore, directed, in consultation with the Chief Justice of India, to set up a special court to try this case and to dispose of the same...,” the court had said in its January 18 order.
Special court for Italian accused while millions of Indians remain in Queue for their cases to be adjudicated. Strange are the ways of our justice system.
Better free them. They can not be made to suffer our notorious
tardiness. The Italian government has paid fair compensation to the
bereaved families.
"......visit their country to cast votes" really? They can vote in italian embassy, Delhi?
In the light of what SC has observed, I hope that the fact Italy being the country of origin of Ms. Sonia Gandhi is not at work with the Italian government for seeking her favors in getting the case against the marines diluted, and arranging for their release from captivity unscathed at the earliest; or, it may also be that Ms. Gandhi might be having soft corner herself for the marines (because of their Italian origin) and wanting their release by subverting the law.
Maybe Congress wants to drag it out a few years then claim it would be aginst the Italians' human rights to be sentenced after suhc a long delay.
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