HC says govt taking steps to secure Jadhav's life & release

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday said it would not interfere with the process relating to the release of death row convict Kulbhushan Jadhav from a Pakistani jail, as the government was taking all steps to safeguard his life.

The Pakistan army chief had on April 10 confirmed the death sentence awarded to Jadhav, a former Naval officer, by a Pakistani military court after he was convicted of "espionage".

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Anu Malhotra observed that at a time when the entire energies of the government are required to be devoted to addressing such a serious matter, this petition has sought to "divert our attention".

"We have no doubt at all that the respondent (central government) are best placed to take the decisions, as also all appropriate steps to safeguard the life and liberty of the citizens of this country. In view of the above, as the concerns raised in petition are being addressed by the respondent, no intervention by us in the matter is called for," the bench said. The high court accepted the stand of Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain that the Union of India was making every possible endeavour with urgency to get Jadhav back.

"We find no reason to disbelieve the submission made by ASG when he informs this court that every possible endeavour is being made by the Government of India to safeguard the life and liberty of its citizen," it noted.