Nimisha Priya case: Delhi HC seeks centre's stand, gives two weeks time

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has issued a notice to the central government on the petition filed by Premakumari regarding the release of her daughter and Malayali nurse Nimishipriya, who is awaiting a death sentence in Yemen. According to the notice, the central government should explain their side in two weeks’ time. The petition asked the central government to facilitate the travel of Premakumari and 'Save Nimishpriya International Action Council' members to Yemen.

The plea will be heard again on November 16. On Thursday, the Central Government informed the High Court that it did not receive the petition of Nimisha Priya's mother. The centre also said that the visa should be first issued by Yemen. Meanwhile, Adv K R Subhash Chandran who appeared for the petitioner hit back at the central government saying that the central government should first lift the travel ban issued on the mother to apply for a visa.

With this, Justice Subramaniam Prasad asked the central government to clear their position within two weeks’ time. Relatives and Action Council are trying to make a settlement with the victim's family in Yemen by paying blood money. The petition also sought to ensure the support of the Indian Embassy in Yemen for this.

This is the second time the matter has come before the Delhi High Court. In 2017, Nimisha Priya was sentenced to death in a case of killing Talal Abdo Mahdi, a Yemeni citizen, by injecting him with sleeping pills, in an attempt to get back her passport.

The case is now under consideration by the Yemeni Supreme Court. If the relatives of the Yemeni citizen grant pardon, Nimishi Priya can walk away from death sentence.