In what is considered a positive development in Indo-Pak relations, India on Thursday conveyed to Islamabad the names of its nominees to the reconstituted joint judicial committee which looks into humanitarian issues of fishermen and prisoners in each other’s custody.
The four nominees from India are Justice (retd) Jaspal Singh (former judge, Delhi High Court); Justice (retd) Harshvadan B Antani (former judge, Gujarat High Court); Justice (retd) Deo Narayan Thanvi (former judge, Rajasthan High Court) and Justice (retd) Indermeet Kaur Kochhar (former judge, Delhi High Court).
India also sought from Pakistan the dates for organising the visit of the committee, an official release said here.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, in October 2017, had suggested to the Pakistan High Commissioner to revive the mechanism of the joint judicial committee. Pakistan responded positively to the same on 7 March.
The committee was first formed in 2007. It consists of retired judges of the higher judiciary who visit and meet prisoners in each other’s jails and propose steps to ensure humane treatment and expedite release of prisoners and fishermen who have completed their prison terms. The committee met seven times. The last meeting was hosted by India in October 2013.