The other three to whom notices were issued are the Principal Officer, the Seamen's Welfare Officer and the Office Superintendent attached to the Mercantile Marine Department at Chennai.

According to a contempt of court application from K Palayam, a member of the National Union of Seafarers of India, Mumbai, he had filed a writ petition in the Madras High Court, which on February 17, 1999, directed the respondents to implement a notification dated February 2, 1998 of the Union Government. The notification stated that the business of shipping office at Chennai port shall be conducted at the office of Seamen's Welfare Officer, Chennai. The very next day, the order was communicated to the Office Superintendent, Mercantile Marine Department,requesting him to make arrangements for handing over charge of the office of Shipping Officer, Chennai Board to Seamen's Welfare Officer, Mercantile Marine Department in obedience of the court order. Justice K Govindarajan issued the notices, returnable after summer vacation.

As he has not taken any step to implement the February 17 order of the High Court till date, the contempt application is filed, applicant said.