The Supreme Court has said combating piracy was imperative for successful world trade as well as safety of seafarers.
The court directed the government to appoint a nodal officer to coordinate and oversee efforts to bring Indian sailors held hostage by Somalian pirates. A Bench of Justices T.S. Thakur and Adarsh Kumar Goel was passing judgment on PILs filed by advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal and the wife of a seaman held hostage by Somali pirates in an undisclosed location.
“Combating piracy is imperative for safety of seafarers as well as successful world trade. The issue is of international concern and is receiving the attention of government of India at the highest level,” the Bench said in it order on Tuesday.
The court said pirates in Somalia were a menace, but it could not assume the role of the Executive and oversee “the sensitive issue of coordination with international agencies and bodies for securing release of citizens, who are held hostages abroad.” It said “the issue of coordination at the international level with foreign countries and international bodies has to be left to the wisdom of experts in the government.”
