The Supreme Court on Monday expressed concern over the possible execution of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya in Yemen, even as the Central Government informed the court that its diplomatic options are severely limited, since Yemen is not officially recognized by India.
A bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta was hearing a petition seeking urgent intervention by the Government of India to halt the scheduled execution of Nimisha Priya, who has been convicted of murder and is reportedly set to be executed on July 16.
Appearing for the Centre, Attorney General R Venkataramani informed the court that the Indian government has reached the limits of its diplomatic capacity due to the absence of official ties with Yemen and the ongoing conflict in the region.
“There is a point up to which the Government of India can go, and we have reached that point. Yemen is not like any other part of the world. We didn’t want to complicate the situation by going public; we are trying to act at the private level,” the Attorney General told the bench.
He further stated that the government was engaging through private channels and deliberately refraining from public statements to avoid escalating the situation.
Venkataramani informed the court that Nimisha Priya’s mother and a social worker were currently in Yemen, attempting to negotiate with the victim’s family for the acceptance of “blood money,” the only legal recourse under Yemeni law for securing clemency.
“The negotiation for blood money is a private matter. The government is not being asked to provide funds. The family is trying to arrange it on their own,” he said.
Expressing serious concern, Justice Sandeep Mehta remarked, “The real cause of concern is the manner in which the incident took place. It’s very sad if she loses her life.”
As the bench noted that the petitioners may be able to raise the blood money, the Attorney General added, “… we received some kind of informal communication suggesting that the execution may have been put on hold. But we don’t know how far that can be believed. There’s no reliable way for the government to ascertain what’s truly happening in Yemen.”
“It is very complex, and we don’t want to complicate the situation by going too public,” he reiterated.
The hearing followed a plea urging the Indian government to intervene and save Nimisha Priya, who, her supporters argue, has been denied due process and a fair trial.
Nimisha, a nurse from Kerala, was convicted for the murder of a Yemeni national, allegedly following prolonged maltreatment and personal harassment. Her supporters claim the act was committed in desperation and in fear for her life.