JUDGMENT

Dated this the 14th day of June, 2022 SHAJI P.CHALY,J Petitioner, a social worker and resident of Lakshadweep Island, has filed this public interest writ petition allegedly aggrieved by the action of the respondents in not having adequate number of larger ships for transportation of passengers inter island, and from mainland to Lakshadweep and vice-versa, and the concomitant difficulties faced by the citizens of Lakshadweep. According to the petitioner, there are five all-weather passenger ships in the ownership of Lakshadweep Administration, that are being operated, however, due to sheer lack of planning and lethargy, only two ships are plying and three are kept idle due to reasons best known to the Administration.

2. It is pointed out that despite the huge increase in number of passengers in comparison to 2014 and the difficulties faced by the public, the Lakshadweep Administration is not taking any earnest efforts to ply the remaining all-weather ships, which led to a situation, where the public are unable to travel between the islands and to the mainland and and vice-versa.

3. According to the petitioner, in spite of various requests made, the authorities have not taken any steps to redress the grievance of the residents of the Lakshadweep Islands, which constrained the petitioner to file this public interest writ petition.

4. A detailed statement is filed by the Lakshadweep Administration and its officials wherein it is contended a follows:

“3. It is submitted that the Lakshadweep administration has channelized every resource with it to ensure transportation facilities to the Islanders. No passiveness or lack of responsibility can be alleged against the respondents herein. It is only due to unexpected repairs that had to be carried out to three of the 5 all-weather ships that transportation facilities were slightly affected. Therefore, it is humbly submitted that the instant writ petition is not maintainable either in law or on facts.

4. It is submitted that the Lakshadweep Administration owns and operates following ships/high speed crafts for passenger service between island mainland and Inter-island as well:

S l .No.	Name	Type of vessel	Passenger Capacity	Cargo Capacity (Tones)
1	MV Kavaratti	A l l weather passenger cum cargo	700	160
2	MV Arabian Sea		252	100
3	MV Lakshadweep Sea		252	100
4	MV Corals		402	250

5	MV Lagoons		402	250
6	MV Aminidivi	Fair weather passenger cum cargo	150	25
7	MV Minicoy		150	25
8	HSC Valiyapani	Fair weather inter- i s l and pasenger high speed crafts (HSC) which can be operated only in fair weather officially from 15th Sept to 15th May every year	154	NA
9	HSC Cheriyapani		154	NA
10	HSC Parali		154	NA
11	HSC Blue Marlin		54	NA
12	HSC Black Marlin		54	NA
13	HSC Skip Jack		54	NA
14	HSC Viringili		17	NA
15	HSC Bangaram		20	NA

It is submitted that the Lakshadweep Administration is taking every effort to streamline passenger and cargo operations to and from Lakshadweep Islands and to ensure maximum possible availability of conveyance to islanders. On these lines, the Administration has entrusted the operation and maintenances of its fleet of ships to M/s. Shipping Corporation of India Ltd. (SCI for short), the largest government shipping company with an Intention to provide a better performance in the operations of the ships as of their scheduled repairs, un-scheduled repairs as per requirements, statutory survey requirements, certificates renewal and docking slot availability at Shipyards.

5. It is submitted that of the 5 all-weather ships of the Lakshadweep administration, ships M.V.Arablan Sea and M.V. Corals are currently operational. M.V. Kavaratti is the largest passenger vessel operated for passenger movements in island and mainland and Inter-Island sector. However the vessel met with a major engine room fire accident on 01.12.2021. After the above accident, the vessel was brought to Kochi on 18.12.2021 with assistance of Tugs and no

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