Assessors in causes of salvage, etc.
Full Text
(1) In any admiralty or vice-admiralty cause of salvage, towage or collision, the Court, whether it be exercising its original or its appellate jurisdiction, may, if it thinks fit, and shall upon request of either party to such cause, summon to its assistance, in such manner as it may direct or as may be prescribed, two competent assessors; and such assessors shall attend and assist accordingly.
(2) Every such assessor shall receive such fees for his attendance, to be paid by such of the parties as the Court may direct or as may be prescribed.
Plain English Summary
Section 140 empowers courts exercising admiralty jurisdiction in salvage, towage, or collision suits to summon two competent nautical assessors to assist the court on technical maritime questions, mandating their appointment upon the request of either party.
Key Legal Elements
- Admiralty Jurisdiction Scope: Pertains to causes of salvage, towage, or maritime collisions.
- Jurisdictional Stage: Applicable at both original and appellate court levels.
- Appointment of Two Assessors: May be summoned suo motu, but mandatory upon application by either party.
- Assessor Renumeration: Entitled to attendance fees fixed by the court and paid by the designated party.
Practical Note
Technical Maritime Expertise in Admiralty Disputes: 1. Advisory Role of Assessors: In maritime collisions and salvage claims, judges utilize nautical assessors (typically master mariners or naval architects) for technical navigation and seamanship opinions. 2. Mandatory upon Request: While the court may summon assessors suo motu, Section 140(1) makes it mandatory ('shall upon request of either party') if either litigant requests technical assessor assistance. 3. Fees: Assessors are expert nautical advisors whose remuneration is taxed and deposited in advance by the requisitioning party.
हिंदी पाठ
(1) उद्धरण (Salvage), कर्षण (Towage) या टक्कर (Collision) संबंधी किसी नावधिकरण (Admiralty) या उप-नावधिकरण वाद में न्यायालय, चाहे वह अपनी आरंभिक अधिकारिता का प्रयोग कर रहा हो या अपनी अपीलीय अधिकारिता का, यदि वह उचित समझे तो, और ऐसे वाद के किसी पक्षकार के अनुरोध पर, अपनी सहायता के लिए दो सक्षम असेसरों (Assessors/तकनीकी सहायकों) को ऐसी रीति से समन कर सकेगा जैसा वह निदेश दे अथवा जैसा विहित किया जाए; और ऐसे असेसर तदनुसार उपस्थित होंगे और सहायता करेंगे।
(2) प्रत्येक ऐसा असेसर अपनी उपस्थिति के लिए ऐसी फीस प्राप्त करेगा, जिसका संदाय पक्षकारों में से ऐसे पक्षकार द्वारा किया जाएगा जैसा न्यायालय निदेश दे या जैसा विहित किया जाए।