The Bombay High Court raised alarms regarding the safety of 50 crew members stranded on three vessels in the Arabian Sea, demanding their presence in court. The crew, all Indian citizens, claimed they had been stuck since February after the Indian Coast Guard intercepted the ships, which are now under police arrest for alleged illegal activities. The ship owners have reportedly abandoned both the vessels and the crew.
A division bench of Justices Ravindra V. Ghuge and Hiten S. Venegavkar heard a habeas corpus petition from the crew, represented by the Maharashtra Navnirman Navin Sena Union. The plea stated that the crew has limited access to food and drinking water, with supplies dwindling. The court directed state authorities to ensure necessary provisions and medical care for the crew while recovering costs from the vessel owners.
On April 29, the court noted the owners had effectively abandoned the ships and ordered a valuation of the vessels, two of which were deemed unseaworthy. The judges warned that if the owners failed to appear in court, they could face orders to move the vessels to a shipbreaking yard at their expense. The court emphasized the urgency of the situation, stressing the importance of human life over material assets.
