'Don't Want Anything Counter-Productive To Happen': Centre To SC On Nimisha Priya Case
Attorney General R. Venkataramani told the court that "efforts are on" and the govt's aim is to ensure that Nimisha Priya returns home safely
The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Centre to take a decision on a request seeking permission to travel to Yemen to help negotiate a pardon for Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, whose execution has been temporarily halted.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta was hearing a plea filed by the 'Save Nimisha Priya Action Council'. The petition asked the Union Ministry of External Affairs to use diplomatic channels to save the Kerala nurse, who is on death row in Yemen for the alleged murder of her Yemeni business partner in 2017.
Appearing for the Centre, Attorney General R. Venkataramani told the court that 'efforts are on" and the government's aim is to ensure that Nimisha Priya returns home safely. 'We don't want anything counter-productive to happen. We want this woman to come out safely," he said.
Senior advocate R. Basant, representing the petitioner organisation, said that while the execution scheduled for July 16 has been stayed, further steps are needed. He requested permission for 2–3 members of the council and a representative of a Kerala Islamic cleric to travel to Yemen to negotiate with the victim's family and seek a pardon.
'Yemen is a country where not just anybody can go. There is a travel ban unless the government relaxes it. Let 2-3 members of the petitioner organisation and a representative of Kerala Islamic cleric be permitted to go to Yemen," Basant said.
He also urged the government to consider allowing a representative to be involved in discussions about paying 'blood money" — compensation under Islamic law in death penalty cases.
The court, however, declined to pass any direction and instead advised the petitioner to formally submit a request to the government for travel permission.
The Attorney General said he could not make any commitments about sending an official representative for negotiations at this stage. 'I don't think anything formally can happen at this point of time," he said.
The court has posted the matter for further hearing on 14 August.
Meanwhile, the brother of the deceased, Abdelfattah Mehdi, has said there can be no pardon in the case, and insists that Nimisha must face execution.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday that India has been providing all possible assistance and is in touch with friendly governments for support.
'We have provided legal assistance and also appointed a lawyer to assist the family. We have also arranged regular consular visits for the family, and we are in touch with both local authorities and the family members to resolve this issue," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a media briefing.
(With inputs from agencies)
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