In a major relief for India, the International Court of Justice has asked Pakistan to review its conviction and sentencing of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, facing execution on charges of spying. Stay with TOI for live updates: International Court of Justice has directed Pakistan to grant consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav. It is no doubt a big victory for India

Although Kulbhushan Jadhav will not be returning to India any time soon, which would have been our best case scenario, it is a relief indeed that ICJ has directed Pakistan to suspend and review his death sentence. It has also directed Pakistan to provide him consular access – in accordance with international diplomatic norms, this is something India has been asking for ever since he was arrested by Pakistan in 2016. This is the very least that Pakistan should do right away.

The Court has, however, rejected remedies sought by India, including annulment of military court decision convicting Jadhav, his release and safe passage to India ICJ judgment: Court finds that Pakistan deprived India of the right to communicate with and have access to Kulbhushan Jadhav, to visit him in detention and to arrange for his legal representation, and thereby breached obligations incumbent upon it under Vienna Convention on Consular Relations

ICJ delivers ‘justice’ in the true sense of that word, upholding human rights, due procedure and the rule of law

I wholeheartedly welcome the verdict of International Court of Justice in the case of Kulbhushan Jadhav. It is a great victory for India. I thank the Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi for our initiative to take Jadhav’s case before International Court of Justice, tweets former external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj

The Court ruled in favour of India by 15 votes to 1

The Court has said that Jadhav’s death sentence should remain suspended until Pakistan effectively reviews and reconsiders the conviction/sentence in light of Pakistan’s breach of Art 36(1) i.e. denial of consular access and notification

The world court has also affirmed Jadhav’s right to consular access

According to reports, ICJ has asked Pakistan to review Kulbhushan Jadhav’s conviction and sentencing