SRINAGAR: The Supreme Court of India on Friday was informed that the execution of an Indian nurse, who is on death row for murder in Yemen, has been stayed.
Attorney General R Venkataramani, as per an NDTV report, appearing for the Centre, told a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta that “efforts are on” in the matter. The top law officer said the government wants Priya to return safely. The counsel appearing for the petitioner said they have to first obtain a pardon and then address the issue of “blood money”.
The petitioner informed the court that the execution has been postponed. It was earlier scheduled for July 16. The apex court was hearing a plea seeking a direction to the Centre to use diplomatic channels to save the life of the nurse facing execution in Yemen. The bench has posted the matter for further hearing on August 14.
Meanwhile, efforts are underway from India’s side to persuade the Yemeni man’s family to pardon Priya in exchange for “blood money”.
Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse from Kerala, was convicted of murdering her Yemeni business partner in 2017. She was sentenced to death in 2020, and her final appeal was rejected in 2023. She is currently imprisoned in a jail in Sana’a, the capital of Yemen.
