New Delhi: The Union government, on Tuesday, submitted to the Delhi High Court that it will intervene in the case of Nimisha Priya, who has been sentenced to death by a court in Yemen for killing a Yemeni national, and try to negotiate with the family of the deceased. The Centre said it will establish communication with the embassy there soon to take stock of the situation.
The Delhi High Court on Monday had asked the Centre's counsel to take instructions on a plea seeking a direction to the government for making a diplomatic intervention to save Nimisha.
Justice V Kameswar Rao listed the petition for Tuesday after the Centre's counsel sought time to seek instructions in the matter.
At the outset, the High Court asked, “This happened in Yemen. How does this court have jurisdiction then? How is this petition maintainable?” The Centre was represented by standing counsel Manish Mohan.
The petitioner's (Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council) counsel had submitted that under the Yemeni law, the woman can gain pardon from the family of the deceased by paying blood money, which refers to the compensation paid by an offender or his kin to the family of a victim.
The petition sought a direction to the Central government to initiate negotiations with the family of the man who was murdered so her life can be saved by paying blood money. (With inputs from PTI)
