SC To Take Final Call On Marines: Arun Jaitley

Here’s what Arun Jaitley said in Lok Sabha on the UN tribunal’s order for the Italian marines.

Arun Jaitley, Minister for Information and Broadcasting and Finance. (Photo: Lok Sabha tv)

Government on Tuesday asserted in Lok Sabha that the UN arbitration tribunal’s order allowing Salvatore Girone, the murder-accused Italian marine to return home from India pending its proceedings has “affirmed” the Supreme Court’s authority and not questioned it.

The tribunal noted that while Italy had earlier made a far-reaching request that, if granted, would have removed Sergeant Girone entirely from the reach of India’s legal system. This time Italy was only requesting India to relax the bail conditions to enable him to return to Italy. In doing so, Italy was prepared to accept that he remained under the jurisdiction of the courts if India. The tribunal has confirmed Italy’s obligation to return Sergeant Girone to India in case India’s jurisdiction over him is established. The tribunal has also left it to India’s Supreme Court to fix precise conditions of his bail.

Arun Jaitley, Minister for Information and Broadcasting and Finance