Jadhav case: India asked to make submission in ICJ by September 13

The International Court of Justice has asked India to make its submission by September 13 in the case relating to Kulbushan Jadhav who faces execution in Pakistan as an alleged spy. Similarly, Islamabad has to make a counter-submission by December 13 before the UN court starts hearing the matter.

Disclosing this, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Gopal Baglay dismissed Pakistan media reports that the world court during a meeting with India and Pakistan representatives on June 8 had rejected India's request for six months to file a plea in the case.

Baglay said the representatives of the two countries met ICJ President Ronny Abraham to discuss timelines on when the two parties needed to make further submissions in the case.

"It was not a full sitting of the court. Timelines were discussed and as a result of these discussions, we submitted to the court for an early and expeditious proceedings in the matter," he said.

The spokesman asserted that India sought four months' time to file its plea and it was granted. "This is the factual situation. The (Pakistan media) report I do not think accurately reflects the decision of the court."

He said the court directed India to submit its plea on September 13 and Pakistan to file a counter plea on Dec 13 this year.

"After that what happens that will be up to the court to decide. First, it will be India's memorial (documents and evidences to be submitted in support of the case) and then Pakistan's memorial. Then the court will see if there is a requirement for further submissions and counter-submissions and then it will decide to hold the hearings,"

Asked if the next hearing was likely to take place in January next year, Baglay said it was "premature" to say that.

"Whether the hearing is held in January 2018 or not that is the decision which the court will take after assessing both the memorial and counter-memorial and whether there is a need for further documents to be filed."

India moved the world court against Jadhav's death sentence on May 8, saying the charges Pakistan levelled against the former Indian Navy official were "concocted" and that he was put through a "farcical" trial by a military court.

The ICJ had on May 18 stayed the execution of death sentence on Jadhav.

--IANS

sar/vsc/dg