PANAJI: The Bombay High Court at Goa has adjourned by four weeks a petition that sought adequate facilities be set up in Goa before the stranded seafarers be brought back home after the Advocate General Devidas Pangam told the court that a similar petition was before the Supreme Court.
“A similar petition concerning the rights of the seafarers is at large before the Apex Court and which has been adjourned by four weeks. Depending on the outcome of the said petition the present petition also stands over by four weeks,” the Bombay High Court at Goa ruled.
In a petition filed, one Mukesh Patel has sought directions to the Government to provide proper infrastructure for testing and containing coronavirus before it could let in the Goan seafarers stranded across the globe.
According to him, there are 8,000 of them, but the facilities in Goa for quarantine and treatment would cater to about only 300 patients.
In response, the Advocate General told the court that allowing people from abroad to come back to the country, including Goa, is a policy decision involving the Central Government. So, it is a necessary party, besides also seeking time to get instructions about the State Government view on the issue.
