Supreme Court Told Execution of Indian Nurse in Yemen Remains Stayed, No Adverse Developments
New Delhi: The Supreme Court was informed on Thursday that the execution of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, who is on death row in Yemen for murder, has been stayed, and that no adverse developments have taken place in the case.
Appearing for the Centre, Attorney General R. Venkataramani told a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta that a new mediator had entered the picture.
When the bench asked, “What has happened to the execution?”, the counsel representing the petitioner organisation, Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council, confirmed that the execution remained stayed.
“The only good thing is, nothing adverse is happening,” Venkataramani noted, while requesting that the matter be adjourned.
The bench then ordered, “List in January 2026. It will be open for the parties to apply for early listing in case the situation so demands.”
The court was hearing a plea seeking directions to the Centre to use diplomatic channels to save the 38-year-old nurse, convicted in 2017 of murdering her Yemeni business partner.
Earlier, on August 14, the petitioner’s counsel had told the apex court there was “no immediate threat” to Priya. Her execution, initially scheduled for July 16, had been stayed, the Centre had informed.
On July 18, the government told the court that all possible efforts were being made to secure her safe return. Priya’s mother had travelled to Yemen to negotiate with the victim’s family after the Delhi High Court permitted her to do so.
Priya, who hails from Palakkad, Kerala, was sentenced to death in 2020 and her final appeal rejected in 2023. She is currently imprisoned in Sana’a, the capital of Yemen.
The petitioner’s counsel earlier suggested exploring the option of paying ‘blood money’ under Sharia law, which could lead to forgiveness from the victim’s family.
On July 17, India said it was in touch with Yemeni authorities and friendly nations to work out a mutually agreeable resolution in the case.
