Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy Wednesday said that a senior lawyer would be appointed to appear for the state in the Supreme Court when the case of shooting by Italian Marines comes up next.
“We have asked the advocate general here to find out a suitable lawyer to appear for us, and it would be done,” Chandy told reporters after the weekly cabinet meeting.
The decision comes after a goof-up by Additional Solicitor General Harin Raval in the apex court last week, when he stated that the state had no jurisdiction to detain the Italian ship as firing by Marines from it took place outside India’s territorial waters.
Two Italian Marines Massimillano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, detailed as security crew on cargo vessel Enrica lexie, were taken into judicial custody Feb 20 for the Feb 15 shooting of two Indian fishermen, Ajesh Binki, 25, and Gelastine, 45, about 14 nautical miles off Alappuzha coast in Kerala.
Soon after Raval’s statement, an angry opposition here slammed Chandy and the Congress-led central government over their handling of the issue.
Later, Chandy demanded that Raval be removed from his post. The law Ministry also acted swiftly and removed him.
The case has been posted for April 30 and a senior lawyer will represent Kerala along with the attorney general.