NEW DELHI: In what appears to be a softening of stance, the government is considering a proposal submitted by Italy that seeks a “consensual solution” to the issue of the two Italian marines facing murder charges in India. Senior government officials have told ET that the country’s top security establishment and the home ministry are studying the Italian government ’s proposal.They said NSA Ajit Doval is also expected to soon chair a high-level meeting on the issue of the Italian Marines. The SC is hearing Italy’s plea challenging the jurisdiction of NIA in charging the marines for murder. The court is scheduled to hear the case next on December 12. India had so far maintained a tough posture on the issue that had increased tension between the two countries. The two marines — Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone — are accused of killing two Indian fishermen off the coast of Kerala in 2012. The main dispute between India and Italy is over the place of the incident. NIA, which has prepared the chargesheet against the marines, maintains that the killing took place in waters under India’s jurisdiction, as the applicability of the IPC had earlier been extended to India’s exclusive economic zone.Italy disputes this, arguing that the marines were in international waters and, hence, should stand trial in Italy. Officials quoted above said the home ministry has prepared a note in response to Italy’s proposal, which will be vetted by the government’s law officers. “Both sides are talking to each other now for a solution,” a person close to the Italian side told ET. While not denying the development, Luigi Gentile, head of political affairs and press at the Italian embassy in Delhi , said “We would not like to comment on this”.