The Kerala High Court has asked the Centre to inform steps taken to rescue sailor who is held hostage by Somali pirates.    

Justice T R Ramachandran Nair asked central government to inform about possible steps that could be taken to free the Malayali merchant navy personnel T B Unnikrishnan while considering a petition filed by his wife Shobha Krishnan.

In the petition, Shobha had challenged central government's stand that it would not negotiate with Somali pirates to facilitate release of her husband. The Centre has refused to negotiate with Somali prirates.  

MT Asphalt Venture, the ship in which Unnikrishnan was the second officer, was hijacked by Somali pirates on September 28, 2010 and crew members, including Unnikrishnan, have been detained in Somalia by the pirates.