Government tells SC there's ‘nothing much’ it can do to halt execution of Kerala Nurse Nimisha Priya
New Delhi: With just two days remaining before the scheduled execution of Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya in Yemen, the Government of India informed the Supreme Court on Monday that there is little it can do to intervene in the matter, given the absence of diplomatic ties with the war-torn country.
Attorney General R Venkataramani, representing the Centre, told the apex court that “there's nothing much the government can do,” citing the political sensitivity of Yemen and its current geopolitical status. “Yemen is not diplomatically recognized, and the situation is extremely delicate,” he added, as quoted by Live Law.
Despite these limitations, the government stated that it is continuing efforts to save Nimisha Priya through unofficial or private diplomatic channels. “We have tried everything possible. Going public would have only complicated the matter,” the AG said. “There’s a point up to which the Indian government can go. We have reached that point.”
Nimisha Priya, a 37-year-old nurse from Palakkad district in Kerala, has been sentenced to death by a Yemeni court over the alleged murder of a local national, Talal Abdo Mahdi. Her execution is scheduled for July 16.
According to reports, Priya moved to Yemen with her family in 2011 for work. While her husband and daughter returned to India in 2014 due to financial difficulties, she stayed behind and eventually opened a clinic in partnership with Mahdi.
However, the relationship reportedly turned abusive. Mahdi allegedly physically assaulted her, confiscated her passport, and threatened her regularly. In an attempt to retrieve her passport and escape the country, Priya tried to sedate Mahdi, but the dose allegedly turned fatal, leading to his death.
Since her conviction in 2020, Nimisha Priya has been lodged in a prison controlled by Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran. India has no formal diplomatic relations with the Houthi authorities, further complicating direct intervention.
Expressing helplessness, the government said it does not have access to developments within the region. “It’s not a matter where the court can direct the government to act beyond its capacity,” said the government counsel. “It's very unfortunate.”
With the execution date looming, last-minute efforts by activists, legal groups, and Nimisha’s family continue, but the window for official intervention is rapidly closing.
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Karnataka launches state-led Centre of Excellence for Space Technology in Bengaluru
Bengaluru (PTI): In a significant boost to India’s rapidly expanding space economy, the Karnataka government on Friday launched the country’s first state-led Centre of Excellence for Space Technology here, officials said.
The initiative is aimed at strengthening India’s capabilities to translate space innovation into scalable commercial outcomes, they said.
The Centre, established by the Government of Karnataka through the Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society in collaboration with SIA (Satcom Industry Association India) -India, was inaugurated by Minister for Electronics, IT/BT, and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Priyank Kharge, in the presence of senior officials and industry leaders, officials said.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Kharge said that Karnataka has consistently been at the forefront of India's technology and innovation journey. With the launch of this Centre of Excellence for Space Technology, we are extending that leadership into one of the most strategic sectors of the future.
"Our focus is not just on advancing research, but on creating an ecosystem where innovation can translate into real-world applications, economic growth, and high-quality jobs. This Centre will play a critical role in positioning Karnataka as a key driver of India's space economy," he said.
According to an official statement, the CoE SpaceTech Foundation has been established under a Memorandum of Agreement between KITS and SIA-India to drive research and innovation in space technologies, industry-aligned training, startup incubation and cross-sector applications, it said.
The Centre has also formalised strategic MoUs with multiple industry and academic partners to support research in space biotech and microgravity, enable collaboration, build talent pipelines, and provide startups with training and market access, it added.
