HC directs Advocate Commissioner to pay Rs 2.25 cr to crew

The Madras High Court today directed Advocate Commissioner of the Ship M T Chemical Arrow, now berthed at Kakinada port in Andhra Pradesh, to pay Rs 2.25 crore to the crew of ship.
Justice R Sudhakar, before whom applications by crew members of the ship came up for hearing, directed the Advocate Commissioner to pay Rs 2.25 crore to all the crew after obtaining permission from the Reserve Bank of India and to provide their air tickets for their repartition to their respective countries.
The ship was arrested as per the orders of Madras and Mumbai High Courts in April due to money owed to creditors.

After several litigations the ship was ordered by High Court for sale. An Advocate Commissioner was appointed by the High Court to monitor the process. After the completion of procedures, the sale of the Ship was confirmed by High Court.
An application was preferred by the crew members who are still on board, in which they claimed that as per the provisions of Merchant Shipping Act they are entitled to be paid till last day of discharge.
They also contended that they are entitled to be repatriated to their respective countries as per the agreement.
They said they have to be paid up to the last day of their discharge which works out to USD 353,415.62 equivalent to Rs 2,12,04,937.20.

The crew, from different countries including Indonesia, Philippines, Ukraine and Egypt, said that the vessel has been sold and the money was lying in the court with the Advocate Commissioner and prayed to issue suitable directions to pay the wages and obtain suitable permission from RBI for payment in foreign exchange and also to obtain air tickets for their repatriation.