Delhi High Court tells MEA, Consulate to assist 3 Indians on death row in Indonesia

The Delhi High Court on Friday directed the India Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Indian Consulate at Indonesia to ensure legal aid for three Indian nationals who are facing the death penalty in Indonesia after they were convicted for drug possession [N. Deepika & Ors Vs Union of India & Anr]..The consulate was directed to ensure that the Indians have adequate legal assistance to pursue appellate remedies in Indonesia, while the MEA was told to pursue the matter on a diplomatic level. Justice Sachin Datta passed the order on a petition filed by the wives of the three Indian nationals who are facing the death row, namely, Raju Muthukumaran, Selvadurai Dinakaran and Govindasamy Vimalkandhan. .The three Indians had been working at a shipyard company in Indonesia. According to reports, they were arrested in July 2024 on allegations that they were involved in smuggling crystal meth. An Indonesian court found they guilty and awarded them the death penalty. This led their wives to move the Delhi High Court seeking urgent reliefs. The wives (petitioners) explained that the limitation period for filing an appeal in Indonesia is only seven days and that they received a copy of the judgement against their husbands only on April 29. They added that they do not have the means to file an appeal before the Indonesian courts..Justice Datta yesterday sought the Indian government's response in the matter and posted the case for further hearing on May 6. In the meantime, the Court ordered the Indian Consulate in Indonesia to provide legal assistance the three Indian nationals and to facilitate communication with their families. “In the meantime, the Indian Consulate in Indonesia is directed to: (i) take requisite steps for the purpose of ensuring that the convicted Indian nationals are afforded adequate legal representation, and to render appropriate assistance to them for the purpose of pursuing appellate remedies; (ii) facilitate communication between the said convicted individuals and their families in India,” the May 2 order said, .The Court added that the MEA should pursue the matter on a diplomatic level with the Indonesian government, to ensure the protection of the Indian nationals.“Ministry of External Affairs, Union of India is also directed to pursue the matter at the diplomatic level with the Indonesian government, for the protection of the Indian nationals under applicable international conventions or bilateral agreement/s (if any),” the Court directed. .Advocate S Parthasarthi represented the petitioners.Central Government Standing Counsel Ashish Dixit appeared for the Union of India..[Read Order]