Prisoners presumed dead as Pak denies presence, lawyers tell judge
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New Delhi: “Are they still alive?” the Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Centre expressing concern over the present status of 54 Indian Prisoners of War (POWs) languishing in Pakistan jails since 1971.
“We don’t know,” solicitor -general Ranjit Kumar, appearing for external affairs and defence ministries, told a bench of Justices T.S. Thakur and Kurian Joseph.
“We presume that they are dead as Pakistan has been denying their presence in their prisons,” he said.
The reply came when the bench asked, “First tell us, what is your understanding about their status? Are they dead or alive?”
The court then directed the government to pay the salary and retirement benefits to the dependents of the PoWs.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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