The Supreme Court on Monday virtually barred French warship Clemenceau from entering India stating that the vessel will not be scrapped in Gujarat until the Customs Department clarified its stand on the controversial issue.
A bench comprising Justice Arijit Pasayat and Justice S H Kapadia has asked the Customs Department to file an affidavit in this regard.
French ship will not enter Indian waters: Owners
"Even if the high-level committee on hazardous waste management clears the dismantling of Clemenceau, we will not permit it without examining the stand of the Customs Department," the Bench said, referring to some earlier cases in which the silence on the part of the department had led to escalation of controversy.
"We do not want Indian waters to be polluted," the court observed, stating that it was necessary for the Department to consider the concerns relating to the hazardous waste vis-à-vis asbestos.
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"Ultimately, if we decide against, they (Clemenceau) have to go back," the Bench said, posting the matter for further hearing on February 13.
Meanwhile, the owners of the decommissioned ship gave an undertaking before the bench that they will not bring the vessel within 220 nautical miles of the Indian coast that forms the Exclusive Economic Zone till further order.
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