Supreme Court seeks report on foreigners in Indian jails
November 11th, 2011 - 10:59 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, Nov 11 (IANS) The Supreme Court Friday found it “shocking” that three Pakistanis were languishing in Jammu jail for the last 46 years. It asked the government for “full disclosure” of every foreigner being held in Indian jails.
The observation by an apex court bench of Justice R.M.Lodha and Justice H.L.Gokhale ca,e after Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party president Bhim Singh told the court that three Pakistanis are languishing in Jammu jail since 1965.
The court said that it was “shocked” if it was true.
“It is shocking if you are right. It really shocks us that for so many years they are in jail,” the court said,
The court said: “We are here to uphold the rights and liberties of every person, whether he is a citizen or not.”
Bhim Singh told the court that four Pakistani women - Baby Heena, Fatima Siddiqui, Kazara Mohammad and Hazira from Karachi - are incarcerated in a jail for last 10 years without trial. He said two of the four are minors.
At this court asked the asked the government counsel to file status report in respect of the four women and show cause “why they should not be repatriated without further delay.”
Pulling up the government for furnishing piecemeal information, the court directed for a comprehensive report. “Don’t give us details in piecemeal. Give us entire picture so that we can pass necessary orders,” the court directed.
The court told the government to furnish all details of the foreign nationals languishing in Indian jails, present status of their cases and their repatriation.
“Petitioner (Prof. Bhim Singh) doesn’t have complete information. As far as you are concerned you have complete information (but) you are giving in piecemeal,” the court said, adding, “It is unfortunate that complete information is not forthcoming.”
“There must be a comprehensive exercise. There must be full disclosure about every foreigner being held in Indian jails,” court said.
Senior counsel Colin Gonsalves told that court that the protocol on the foreign nationals arrested and kept in Indian jails was faulty.
The court in its order directed the Centre to file its position on revising the protocol.
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Tags: apex court, bhim singh, court bench, foreign nationals, four women, full disclosure, gokhale, government counsel, hazira, jails, jammu and kashmir, kazara, lodha, necessary orders, pakistani women, pakistanis, panthers party, party president, senior counsel, siddiqui