Italian marines to be prosecuted, special court to be set up

Supreme Court turns down Italian govt's plea that Indian courts had no jurisdiction in the case

In a setback to the Italian marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen, the Supreme Court today turned down their government's plea that Indian courts had no jurisdiction in the case and directed that their trial be conducted by a special court.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir said the Kerala government has no jurisdiction to prosecute the two foreign marines.

It said the trial of the case will be conducted by a special court to be set up by the Centre after consulting the Chief Justice of India (CJI).

The bench passed the order on a petition filed by the Italian government through its Ambassador questioning the jurisdiction of Indian courts in hearing the case against its marines.

The bench also comprising Justice J Chelameswar did not specify where the special court is to be set up for the trial and left it to the Centre to decide on the issue after consulting the CJI.