Nimisha Priya execution: Indian govt taking ‘good care’ of case, says SC, next hearing on Aug 14

India’s Supreme Court has remarked that the Central government is “managing well” the case involving nurse Nimisha Priya from Kerala. The comments from the highest court followed the delay of the 38-year-old Indian woman’s execution by Yemeni officials earlier this week. In Friday’s session, the lawyer representing Nimisha Priya’s family requested approval to travel to Yemen for the case.

The Supreme Court has instructed the team to obtain permission from the Centre concerning this issue because of the existing travel ban.

The private entity aimed for the journey of its members along with a delegate from Kerala Sunni Islamic leader and Grand Mufti of India, Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musaliyar. Musaliyar’s intervention resulted in the nurse’s execution being delayed.

Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kerala, India, is on death row in Yemen for purportedly killing a Yemeni citizen in 2017. The 38-year-old nurse has asserted that the Yemeni national subjected her to both physical and financial mistreatment and allegedly attempted to sedate him to recover her documents. Nonetheless, during the process, she resulted in an overdose, which caused his demise.

In 2020, a Yemeni court convicted Priya, and the ruling was subsequently confirmed by the Supreme Judicial Council controlled by the Houthis. Her execution was scheduled for July 16.

On July 15, the Grand Mufti of India intervened, stopping Nimisha Priya’s execution.

The government has declared it is carefully observing the situation and has been in contact with local officials. “We have provided legal assistance and appointed a lawyer to assist the family. We have also arranged regular consular visits and been in constant touch with the local authorities and the family members to resolve the issue,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.