Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court on Monday imposed
a fine of Rs 10,000 on the Defence Ministry for not filing
proper reply for over 10 years on a petition seeking release
of prisoners lodged in jail by Pakistan during the 1971 war.
The petition filed in 1999 by Jagjit Singh Arora had
sought direction from the court to the Central government for
securing the release of 54 Prisoners Of War (POWs) languishing
in Pakistani prisons, and demanded adequate compensation for
them.
Arora had also prayed that the POWs be treated as
soldiers on duty and be given adequate compensation.
A division bench of Justices Bhagwati Prasad and B N
Mehta, hearing the petition today which was listed for 68th
time, imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on the Ministry of Defence
for not giving reply to the court in connection with the
petition for over ten years. It kept the next hearing on
January 18.
Advocate K M Paul, representing Arora, said they have
also asked the Centre to approach the United Nations for
release of the POWs in Pakistan prison.
PTI
First Published: Monday, January 11, 2010, 22:16