In order to facilitate the release of prisoners lodged in Pakistani jails, India on Thursday nominated four judges to reconstitute the Indo-Pak Joint Judicial Committee (JJC).
The mechanism was first set up in 2007, but has been defunct since 2013. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had suggested the revival of the mechanism to looks into humanitarian issues of fishermen and prisoners in each other's custody to the High Commissioner of Pakistan in October, 2017.
The mechanism 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 names of nomiinated judges 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), Justice (Retd) Indermeet Kaur Kochhar (Former Judge, Delhi High Court).
The mechanism will be complete, once Pakistan also nominates its judges. The Ministry of External Affairs, while communicating names of the judges, has also sought dates from Pakistan for organising the visit of the Committee.
