14 July 2025 | New Delhi
In a case that has stirred emotional appeals across India and highlighted the limits of international diplomacy, the Union Government on Monday informed the Supreme Court that it had reached the “outermost edge” of its diplomatic capabilities in seeking clemency for Nimisha Priya, the Indian nurse facing execution in Yemen.
The statement came during the hearing of a petition filed by a humanitarian group seeking urgent intervention to halt her impending hanging, scheduled for 16 July 2025.
Supreme Court’s Sobering Session
A bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta heard submissions from Attorney General R. Venkataramani, who acknowledged the complex and constrained diplomatic environment, given that India has no formal diplomatic presence in war-torn Yemen.
“There is nothing much more that can be done from the Government’s side. Diplomatic avenues have been exhausted,” the AG said, adding that India has been relying on back-channel communications and informal outreach with local tribal and legal authorities.
The Court refrained from passing any interim order and adjourned the matter for final hearing on 18 July 2025—two days after the scheduled date of execution.
The Blood Money Complication
Under Yemeni law, a death sentence may be commuted if the victim’s family accepts “diya” (blood money). Nimisha Priya’s family, backed by civil society groups and public donors, has reportedly raised the required ₹8.6 crore, but the victim’s family has refused the offer—insisting that “no price can undo the crime.”
The Centre clarified in court that negotiating such private settlements is beyond its mandate, especially in jurisdictions where tribal or religious law governs over codified procedures.
Background of the Case
Nimisha Priya, a trained nurse from Kerala, was convicted by a Yemeni court in 2017 for the murder of her former employer, a Yemeni national. According to court documents, the killing occurred after she injected sedatives into him allegedly to retrieve her passport and escape abuse. The act turned fatal.
While her legal team has long argued that she acted in desperation and self-defense, the Yemeni court convicted her of premeditated murder, a capital offence under Sharia-based law.
Limited Leverage, Global Attention
This case has triggered widespread petitions, both online and in political circles. Several Members of Parliament, including K. Radhakrishnan and K.C. Venugopal, have written to the Prime Minister urging urgent humanitarian intervention.
However, as the Centre explained in court, the ongoing conflict in Yemen, absence of an Indian embassy, and lack of structured legal recourse have all combined to limit the government’s leverage.
• Humanitarian Crisis Meets Legal Limitation: With no embassy or treaty mechanism in place, India finds itself powerless to intervene—raising concerns about protecting Indian citizens abroad.
• Women’s Safety in Overseas Employment: The case reignites debate on the vulnerabilities faced by migrant workers, particularly women in domestic or caregiving roles in West Asia.
• Court’s Jurisdiction in Global Justice: The case may set a tone for how India’s judiciary views its moral vs. legal responsibility in extra-territorial criminal matters.
Case Details
Nimisha Priya International Action Council & Ors. v. Union of India
