Nurse Nimisha Priya Execution| New mediator has stepped in, nothing adverse has happened: Centre tells SC

The Supreme Court was informed today by the Attorney General R Venkataramani that a new mediator has been appointed to resolve the issue concerning Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, who faces a death sentence in Yemen.

"The only good thing is that nothing adverse has happened", a bench of Justices Vikram Natha and Sandeep Mehta was further told.

In August the Supreme Court had adjourned by eight weeks the hearing of a PIL filed by the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council concerning Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, who faces a death sentence in Yemen. Priya, convicted by a Yemeni court, was scheduled for execution on July 16, 2025. Her execution was stayed on July 15 until further orders.

Pertinently, on July 18, the Apex Court had permitted the petitioner in a PIL to file a representation before the Union Government seeking diplomatic intervention to save the Indian nurse, who is facing execution in Yemen. At the outset, Attorney General R Venkataramani had apprised the Court that efforts were ongoing and requested adjournment. “Let it be put for some other day so that we know in the meanwhile…” he had submitted.

Senior Advocate R. Basant appearing for the petitioner had informed the Court that the temporary stay on Priya’s execution was secured with the help of various stakeholders. He added that the next crucial step is to secure forgiveness from the victim’s family, a precondition for initiating negotiations on the payment of diyah (blood money) under Yemeni law. The Senior Counsel had appearing for the petitioner, pointed out that a travel ban was currently in place and only the Government of India could grant special permission for individuals to travel to Yemen for these negotiations.

The Attorney General had cautioned against any immediate intervention, stating, “There are so many diplomatic, inter-country relationships involved… Why should we get involved and create a problem when the real issue is solved?” While declining to pass any formal order, the Court had allowed the petitioner to make a representation to the Government, which may consider the request on its own merits.

On July 15, the execution of Priya convicted in Case No. 68 of 2018 by a Saudi criminal court, had been officially postponed. In a formal communication addressed to the Director of the Central Correctional Facility, authorities had conveyed that the postponement was issued based on directions from the Attorney General.

It is to be noted that on July 14, the Supreme Court of India had heard a PIL seeking urgent diplomatic intervention by the Indian government to prevent the execution of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya in Yemen, reportedly scheduled for July 16. Kerala Chief Minister (CM) Pinarayi Vijayan had also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, seeking urgent intervention to save the life of Nimisha Priya Tomy Thomas, an Indian national facing execution in Yemen. The CM had stressed that the case deserves "sympathy and intervention at the highest level."

Case Title: Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council v. Union of India & Anr.

Hearing Date: October 16, 2025

Bench: Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta