New Delhi:
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday expressed concern over a prisoner of war (PoW) languishing in a Pakistan jail for the last 44 years and asked the Centre to file a report on the number of PoWs in jails there.
"It's pathetic. A person who has lost his memory and has become of unsound mind, is languishing in jail for the last 44 years," a bench comprising Chief Justice A P Shah and Justice Manmohan said while hearing a PIL seeking a direction to the government to take steps for the release of Anand Patri who has been in Pakistan jail since 1965.
The Court asked the government to file an affidavit within four weeks and put the matter for next hearing on October 21.
The Court passed the order on a petition filed by M K Paul, a human right activist, who contended that the government is not taking keen interest to take care about the life and liberty of Patri and also asked for compensation to his surviving legal heirs.
The PIL contended that legal heirs of Patri, who fought in the 1962 war with China and 1965 war with Pakistan and went missing just thereafter, has not been paid any legal due since then.
"The government has not done any serious effort to trace Patri who is in Pakistan for the last 44 years," the petitioner alleged.