Dismantling of INS Vikrant; Supreme Court to hear Centre's plea tomorrow

The Supreme Court today agreed to hear tomorrow a plea of the Centre seeking modification of an earlier order virtually stopping the dismantling process of India's first aircraft carrier INS Vikrant decommissioned in 1997.

The Ministry of Defence has sought an urgent hearing of its fresh plea for modification of the May 5 order on the ground that the aircraft carrier has been incurring huge cost in its repairs and maintenance, besides occupying crucial berth for other serving vessels at the Naval dockyard at Mumbai. "We are not sitting in the vacation to modify the earlier orders," the bench of justices B S Chauhan and A K Sikri said when Additional Solicitor General Siddharth Luthra, appearing for the Defence ministry, mentioned the case.

"At least, the decommissioned vessel be allowed to be taken out so that the harbour is cleared," the ASG said. The bench then posted the plea for hearing tomorrow.