As many as 1,710 Indian prisoners are languishing in jails of United Arab Emirates (UAE). Awaiting deportation, some of them are facing trials while some stand convicted. This information has been furnished by the Central government in response to an ongoing public interest litigation (PIL) seeking directions to the Indian Consulate to look after the interests of Indian prisoners suffering abroad. Lawyers for Human Rights International (LFHRI), an NGO, through its Chairman Advocate Navkiran Singh, is the petitioner in the case pending before Punjab and Haryana High Court. Navkiran had also demanded legal aid for the 17 Sikhs who have been awarded death penalty for murdering a youth in Sharjah.

To know the status of Indian prisoners abroad who are behind bars, Navkiran had demanded information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. While the consolidated number of Indian prisoners has been submitted by the Central government, surprisingly their individual case records have not been made available. Details of only Indian prisoners in Dubai have been submitted.

Consider this: "Individual case records of Indian National in UAE jails are not being maintained" reads the reply of the Indian Embassy. Blaming the government of UAE for not "maintaining" the record, the Indian Embassy has submitted that "currently, details of Indians in detention by local police or in UAE jails is not being provided by the local authorities. This has been taken up with the UAE government".

The break-up of Indian prisoners in UAE jails is as follows: Abu Dhabi - 306; Dubai - 766; Sharjah - 359; Ajman - 109; Ras al Khaimah - 63; Fujairah - 46; Umm Al Quwain - 18; Al Ain - 43.

Vindicating the plea taken by Navkiran Singh in his petition before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Central government's reply reads, "In the normal course, the Government of India does not extend legal assistance to Indian prisoners in foreign jails. Whenever, the Embassy/ Consulate is informed about any specific problem faced by an Indian inmate, the same is taken up with the concerned authorities".

... contd.

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