Kargil martyr case: SC issues notice to centre

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Friday issued notice to the centre on a plea to refer to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) the torture of Indian Army officer Capt. Saurabh Kalia by the Pakistani Army after he was captured during the 1999 Kargil war.

An apex court bench of Justice RM Lodha and Justice Anil R Dave issued notice after counsel Arvind Kumar Sharma told the court that the victim's family approached the defence ministry seeking the matter be referred to ICJ as Kalia's treatment after being captured violated the international convention on the treatment of prisoners of war.

The petition has been moved by Capt Saurabh Kalia's father NK Kalia. The court was initially reluctant to issue notice on the grounds that the matter involved two 
countries and the Indian government should take up the issue with the ICJ.

At this, the court was told that Capt Saurabh Kalia's family has made every effort to seek justice. They had requested the defence ministry, which in turn said that matter has been referred to the Prime Minister's Office, which in turn said the matter was under the consideration of the external affairs ministry. The court gave centre 10 days time to respond to the petition.