India, May 6 -- The Bombay High Court on Tuesday ordered the release of around 50 Indian seafarers who were stranded on three arrested ships off the city's coast since early February with limited food and water supply.

A division bench of justices Ravindra V Ghuge and Hiten S Venegavkar also slammed the owners of the three ships-MT Asphalt Star, MT Stellar Ruby, and MT Al Jafzia-for "prioritising money over human lives," noting that the crew had been surviving on only 300 ml of water per day and minimal food.

"Your conduct doesn't value human life. If you don't give them adequate water, their kidneys will fail. Your money will come and go; you're a rich man. For them, life comes only once," the bench said.

The Indian Coast Guard had in...