The Indian Supreme Court’s decision is “a step forward” in the case involving Italian marines Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, as Minister Giulio Terzi explained to the TG1 news programme, commenting on the transfer of the case to a special tribunal. “First and foremost, the court recognized that the State of Kerala did not have jurisdiction over the case; secondly, it was formally acknowledged for the first time that the incident took place in international waters”, the minister added.
Judges establish non-jurisdiction of Kerala
The New Delhi Supreme Court arranged today for the appointment of a special tribunal in New Delhi to examine the February 2012 incident involving the two marines. The judges established the “incompetence” of the State of Kerala, which “did not have jurisdiction” to intervene given that “the deed did not take place in Indian territorial waters”.
Full freedom of movement in India
The judges then announced that an ordinance would be issued for the immediate transfer of the two marines to New Delhi where, as they awaited the start of the court sessions, they would be allowed “full freedom of movement on Indian soil”.
