Kulbhushan Jadhav row: Delhi High Court dismisses plea asking to approach ICJ to free former naval officer

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea seeking direction to the government to approach the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for securing the release from Pakistan of alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav. [caption id=“attachment_3393238” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Kulbhushan Jadhav. Image courtesy: CNN-News18[/caption] A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Anu Malhotra refused to interfere with the government’s steps being taken to secure the release of Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death by a special military court in the neighbouring country. The bench said: “Every possible endeavour is being made by the government of India to secure the life of the citizen (Jadhav)… the matter best deserves to be left to the expertise of the government. No intervention by us is called for.” The plea had said an Indian citizen had been illegally detained and wrongly sentenced to capital punishment by a Pakistani military court without providing him a fair trial. Pakistan has not made public copies of the chargesheet against Jadhav and the copy of the judgment sentencing him to death, said social activist Rahul Sharma who approached the court. In his petition, he demanded that the Indian government challenge the violations of international law by the Pakistan government by taking the matter to the International Court of Justice. Jadhav, sentenced to death on 10 April 10, faced seven charges including espionage and waging war against Pakistan. Islamabad has rejected Indian requests for consular access to Jadhav.