Delhi HC dismisses plea seeking direction to Centre to approach ICJ for securing release of Kulbhushan Jadhav

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court dismissed a plea seeking direction to Centre to approach International Court of Justice for securing release of Kulbhushan Jadhav, the Indian national on death row in Pakistan.

A social activist had filed a petition saying an Indian citizen had been illegally detained and wrongly awarded capital punishment by a Pakistani military court without providing him a fair trial.

The petition sought direction to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to approach the ICJ for providing consular access to Jadhav, saying the former Naval officer has not only been illegally detained by Pakistan but also wrongly awarded capital punishment.

Jadhav, sentenced to death on April 10, faced seven charges including espionage and waging war against Pakistan. Islamabad has rejected Indian requests for consular access to Jadhav.

The plea also said government should also issue protocol for release of Indians abducted/kidnapped in other countries.