The India-Pakistan Judicial Committee on prisoners that visited Indian jails over the past three days has recommended that fishermen who inadvertently cross the maritime boundary should be repatriated by sea lanes along with their boats.
Endorsing the recommendation of the Home Secretary level talks held last year, the committee has said in a statement that a mechanism should be set for the release of inadvertent crossers (fishermen) and their boats, on the same lines as the inadvertent crossers on land.
The delegation, of two retired judges from each side, met Pakistani prisoners in Delhi, Jaipur and Amritsar and recommended that consular access must be provided within three months of the arrest and repatriation should take place within one month of the completion of sentences and confirmation of nationality.
It was also recommended that serious/terminally and mentally challenged prisoners must be kept in hospitals irrespective of confirmation of their national status and offence, a joint statement issued by the committee said.
It also says that prisoners involved in minor offences like violation of Foreigners’ Act and visa violation should be treated with compassion from both sides. The next visit of the committee to Pakistani jails is likely to take place in April.
2012 The Indian Express Limited