Aden – India’s Supreme Court has postponed its consideration of a plea seeking diplomatic intervention for the release of Nimisha Priya, a Kerala-born nurse currently on death row in Yemen, listing the matter for review after eight weeks.

The petition, filed by the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council, urged the government to facilitate negotiations with the family of the Yemeni man whom Priya was convicted of murdering in 2017. 

Under Yemeni law, a pardon may be granted in exchange for “blood money,” but the Ministry of External Affairs has previously denied travel clearance to the conflict-ridden country, citing severe security risks.

During Thursday’s hearing, the petitioner’s counsel informed the bench—comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta—that there was currently “no immediate threat” to Priya’s life, as her execution had been temporarily stayed. 

The bench agreed to defer the case, allowing time for ongoing negotiations and stating that the matter could be mentioned earlier if an emergency arises.

Priya, 38, has been imprisoned in Sana’a since her conviction and sentencing in 2020. Her final appeal was rejected in 2023. 

The case has drawn widespread attention from human rights advocates, Kerala’s political leadership, and the Indian diaspora, who continue to call for urgent diplomatic efforts to secure her release.

The Supreme Court’s decision to delay the hearing underscores the complex legal and geopolitical challenges surrounding the case, as well as the limited options available for direct engagement in Yemen amid ongoing civil conflict.