Kulbhushan Jadhav case: Senior counsels hail India's move to approach ICJ

ICJ to pronounce verdict on Jadhav's case on Thursday/ (Photo: AP/File)

New Delhi: Senior advocates have hailed India’s decision of approaching the International Court of Justice saying in regards to the death penalty given to Indian National Kulbhushan Jadhav by Pakistan court, saying this would send across strong message that India is no less than any other developed nation.   As the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is set to deliver its verdict on Kulbhushan Jadhav case on Thursday. "Indian has internationalised a matter of consular access. It is very important for India not only in case of Jadhav but in the case of every Indian citizen. All countries take steps to protect and ensure that their citizens who are in custody in other countries get consular access.” Former Additional Solicitor General and senior advocate Sidhartha Luthra told media. “This is important because it sends out a signal that India is no less than other developed nations. India has taken steps to protect the rights of its citizen. It was very important for India to show its commitment to each of its citizen" he added. The International Court of Justice at The Hague will pronounce its verdict on Thursday over the death sentence awarded to former naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav by the Pakistani military court. India has dragged Pakistan to the International Court of Justice over Kulbhushan Jadhav’s case after Islamabad two-star military court framed concocted charges against Jadhav. India has accused Pakistan of not following diplomatic norms and dragged Pakistan to the ICJ on May 8 for violating the Vienna Convention by refusing New Delhi’s 16 requests of consular access to Jadhav and denying him the right to defend himself. Arguing before the 11-judge bench at the ICJ, which included former Supreme Court Judge Dalveer Bhandari, India’s counsel Harish Salve stressed that not granting consular access and not giving legal representation of Jadhav’ s choosing amounted to a "miscarriage of justice" and a "violation of his right" to defend himself from concocted charges in a "farcical trial". India told the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that immediate steps must be taken to stop Pakistan from carrying out the death sentence of former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav.Noted lawyer Harish Salve had told the court that India couldn’t arrange for Jadhav’s defence due to denial of consular access by Pakistan. He said India made innumerable requests for consular access, but Pakistan refused to provide documents relating to the case and consular access to him.