The Andhra Pradesh HC permitted seven South Korean employees of LG Chemical Ltd. to leave India. LG Chemical Ltd. is the parent company of LG Polymers India Ltd. Last month styrene gas got leaked. The incident took the lives of several people and affected many households.
On May 22nd, the HC ordered the State Government to seize company premises of LG polymers. It restrained the Directors from leaving the country. The Court took suo moto cognizance aftermath of the Vizag gas leak incident.
Petitioner’s Contentions
Senior Advocate Mukul Rohtagi with Advocate D. Narendar Naik represented the Petitioners. He submitted that they are employees of LGC and they are neither employees nor directors of LGPI. Furthermore, he stated that they have no connection with the daily affairs of LGPI plants. Hence, the petitioners filed the petition against the order of Assistant Commissioner of Police.
Respondent’s Contentions
ASG N Harinath represented the Respondents. AC of Police had passed an order restraining petitioners from leaving India for investigation. According to the authorities, petitioners were aware of the reasons for the leakage and were required for investigation.
Court’s Observation
The Bench said,
“The Petitioners came to India as a part of the Expert Team being employees of the parent company, primarily they may not have any liability of the incident, more so, when they are not employees of the LGPI and are the employees of the parent Company – LGC and came to India from South Korea to assist or to find out the cause for the incident. Hence, we deem it appropriate to direct the authorities to permit the petitioners to travel from India to South Korea.”
Court’s Order
The Bench comprised of CJ JK Maheshwari and Justice Lalitha Kanneganti. The HC permitted seven South Korean employees to leave India. It stated that they might have no liability for the incident as they are employees of the parent company.
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