Approach ICJ for 54 Indian POWs: HC

The Gujarat High Court’s direction to the Centre over the release of 1971 prisoners of war (POWs) is the “first hurdle” crossed in what is a long battle ahead, according to the advocate who fought the case for the families of the POWs for over a decade.

“We have done it,” said advocate K M Paul after the court directed the government to approach the International Court of Justice (ICJ) within two months for the release of 54 Indian POWs of the 1971 war languishing in Pakistani jails.

“This is just the first hurdle that we have been able to cross after over a decade long battle,” said a delighted Paul, who expressed his willingness to provide all help to the Centre to prepare their case for the international forum. The advocate said that the case was taken up by his father M K Paul in 1998 after reading about the plight of the POWs in a local news daily.

“He (father) approached late Lt Gen Jagjit Singh Arora with the facts after doing some research following which Singh filed a petition in the Gujarat High Court in 1999,” he said.