LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.6147
TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.04.2018
REDUCTION OF SENTENCES
6147. SHRI K. ASHOK KUMAR:
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the death sentence of 15 Indians, lodged in Kuwaiti jails, have been commuted to life imprisonment by Emir of Kuwait and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Emir has also directed that the sentences of 119 Indian nationals be reduced and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government is considering to take up the issue of Indian prisoners languishing in jails in the Middle East with the respective countries; and
(d) if so, the steps taken in this regard?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]
(a) Yes. The death sentences of 15 Indians have been commuted to life imprisonment.
(b) Yes. The sentences of 119 Indian nationals have been reduced vide Amiri Decree issued in 2017. The details are given below:
With immediate release : 22
Reduction of three quarters of the sentence : 18
Reduction by half period of the sentence : 25
Reduction by one quarter of the sentence : 1
Reduction from life to 20 years : 53
(c) & (d) The Government of India attaches the highest priority to the safety, security and welfare of Indian nationals abroad, including Indian prisoners languishing in jails in the Middle East. The Government of India through its Missions abroad and through
bilateral mechanisms regularly takes up cases of Indian nationals lodged in foreign jails with the concerned authorities for taking a sympathetic view of all such cases, including in Middle East countries. Our consular officers regularly visit Indian nationals
in foreign jails and in all deserving cases, consular/legal assistance and guidance is provided within Government of India’s guidelines.
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