The Center told the Supreme Court on Friday (July 18, 2025) that the government is making every effort to ensure the safe release of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, who is facing a death sentence for murder in Yemen.
The bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta was informed that the execution of Nimisha Priya has been banned. He was to be hanged on 16 July. The lawyer of the petitioner organization ‘Save Nimisha Priya-International Action Council’ has requested the Center to form a delegation to go to Yemen to talk to the victim’s family.
The bench said that the petitioner can present his side before the government. The bench said, ‘It has been said in the bar that the hanging has been banned at present. The petitioners want to put their side before the government, for which they are free. Attorney General R. When Venkatramani said that the efforts of the Center are going on, the petitioner’s counsel said that the hanging has been banned.
The lawyer said, ‘The first step is that he has postponed it (hanging) at the moment. We have to get an apology first. In the second phase, it comes to giving blood money. First the family has to forgive us. He said that only after that there can be talk on blood money.
The lawyer said that Yemen is not a country where anyone can go, there is a ban on travel without the permission of the government. To this, the bench said, ‘You should contact the government. The government will consider this. The government is already doing a lot for you and is doing everything possible on its behalf.
The petitioner’s counsel urged that the petitioner organization’s delegation of two or three people and representatives of a religious person from Kerala (who are associated with the case) should be allowed to visit Yemen to talk to the victim’s family.
The lawyer said that if the central government considers it appropriate, then a representative of the government can also go to Yemen. Venkataramani said, ‘I don’t think anything can happen formally at this time.’ When the bench questioned whether the hanging has been banned indefinitely, the petitioner’s counsel said that no date has been given yet.
Venkataramani said, ‘This means that some work is being done.’ The petitioner’s counsel said that Nimisha Priya’s mother had gone to Yemen to talk to the victim’s family and went there after the Delhi High Court requested the Central Government to allow her to travel.
He said, ‘We can go and talk and apologize to the family so that someone can find a solution.’ The bench said, ‘We are not saying anything. We will only say that whatever request they want to make from the government. The government will consider this. We are not telling what the request should be.
Venkataramani said that the government wants Priya to come out safely and every possible effort is being made, but does not want to share detailed information at this time. He said, ‘This is a very difficult situation.’ Venkataramani said that what the court he is saying is being published in the media.
On this, the bench said, ‘This is something that we cannot stop. You either request action in a closed room, we will do this. Venkataramani said, ‘I just want this woman to come out safely.’ The bench has set the date of August 14 for the next hearing of the case.
The Supreme Court is hearing a petition to direct the Center to use diplomatic mediums to save Priya (38) facing the death sentence in Yemen.
Nimisha Priya was first to be hanged on 16 July. In 2017, nurse Nurse of Palakkad district of Kerala was convicted of killing her Yemeni business partner. He was sentenced to death in 2020 and his final appeal was rejected in 2023. He is currently lodged in a jail in Sana, the capital of Yemen.