New Delhi: An Indian prisoner languishing in a Pakistani jail for the last 22 years — on charges of spying — has moved the Supreme Court alleging that the UPA Government was not taking adequate steps through diplomatic channels to get him back, even after Islamabad agreed to free him last August.
Gopal Dass, in his 60's and presently lodged in Lahore Central Jail, submitted that he was arrested by the Pakistani forces for crossing the border inadvertently and was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1986 which he completed in 2005.
Dass' petition, filed through his Gurdaspur-based brother Anand Vir, came for hearing before a Bench headed by the Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan which sought the assistance of Solicitor General G E Vahanvati in the matter.
Advocate Saurabh Mishra, appearing for Dass, contended that he could be released only through diplomatic channels but the Centre was not taking any steps in that direction due to which he was still languishing in the jail even after completing life sentence.
"The Government of Pakistan had decided to release him on August 14 (Pakistan's Independence Day) last year but the Government of India did not take any action for his release and he continues to languish there as his release could be possible only through diplomatic channels," Mishra submitted.
"Despite various representations given to authorities on behalf of the petitioner, he had not received any reply or response," he pointed out.
Dass submitted that he was arrested by the Pakistan Rangers while inadvertently crossing over to Pakistan border in July 1984.
Dass was tried in an army court and was sentenced to life imprisonment on June 30, 1986. His family then approached the Indian authorities against the alleged illegal conviction but they refused to interfere in the matter.
Dass completed his sentence in the year 2005 but he continues to be in prison because the Centre allegedly failed to take appropriate action despite the Pakistan Government's willingness to release him.
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