211. Deserters from foreign ships.- (1) Where it appears to the Central Government that, due facilities are or will be given by the Government of any country outside India for recovering and apprehending seamen who desert from Indian ships in that country, the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, stating that such facilities are or will be given, declare that this section shall apply to seamen belonging to ships of such country, subject to such limitations or conditions as may be specified in the notification. (2) Where this section applies to seamen belonging to ships of any country and a seaman deserts from any such ship, when within India, any court that would have had cognisance of the matter if the seaman or apprentice had deserted from an Indian ship shall, on the application if a consular officer of that country, aid in apprehending the deserter and for that purpose may, on information given on oath, issue a warrant for his apprehension and on proof of the desertion order him to be conveyed on board his ship or delivered to the master or mate of his ship or to the owner of the ship or his agent to be so conveyed and any such warrant or order may be executed accordingly. |
