The Kerala High Court on Tuesday directed the agent of the Italian vessel, M.T. Enrica Lexie , to furnish a bank guarantee or a demand draft for Rs 3 crore against the compensation claims filed by the three next of kin of the fishermen gunned down by the naval marines in the ship. A Division Bench comprising Mr Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan and Mr Justice C.T. Ravikumar made it clear on furnishing the bank guarantee or a demand draft for the amount to the Registrar General of the High Court, the vessel could be allowed to sail out.

However, the court clarified that this order would not stand in the way of the vessel being arrested or detained any other litigation or as required by the police authorities in connection with any pending investigation. When the appeals filed against a single judge's order directing the agent of the ship to furnish a bank guarantee of Rs 25 lakh in the High Court came up in the morning, the Bench directed the counsel for the shipping company to find out whether the compensation claims could be settled through mediation. Later, the counsel told the court that the company was not inclined to participate in mediation as it thought that it might be too premature to go in for mediation.

> kcgopan@thehindu.co.in

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