SC notice to Centre on plea on Sarabjit Singh

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today sought to know the Centre's stand on a plea for direction to it to take steps for release and repatriation of Indian death row convict Sarabjit Singh languishing in a Pakistani jail for the last 21 years for his alleged role in a terror act there.

A bench of justices B Sudershan Reddy and Surinder Singh Nijjar issued notices to the Ministry of External Affairs and the Union Home Secretary on a plea by Sarabjit through his sister Dalbir Kaur.

"The union government has failed to take appropriate steps for his release," said Kaur, adding "her letters and representations have not even been answered by the External Affairs Ministry and the Home Ministry despite several attempts."

Dalbir has sought the court's directions to the government for immediate and necessary steps for Sarabjit's release from Lahore's Kotlakhpat Central Jail.

Dalbir said "it is the duty of the government of India to ensure and guarantee the fundamental rights of its citizens and take appropriate measures for early release of Sarabjit who was illegally detained by the government of Pakistan."