Washington: US based rights group "Sikhs for Justice" has challenged US government's suggestion to a Washington court to grant immunity to former Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh in a human rights violation case.
The US Department of Justice in a May 2 submission asked the Washington federal court "to recognize Prime Minister Singh's immunity from this suit while in office" as determined by the US government.
The determination was "in consideration of the relevant principles of customary international law, and in the implementation of its foreign policy and in the conduct of its international relations," it said.
However, "The United States expresses no view on the merits of Plaintiffs' claims against Prime Minister Singh", the submission added.
Challenging the submission, SFJ Monday asked the court to take a "judicial notice" of the fact that Manmohan Singh is no longer the Prime Minister of India and therefore does not enjoy immunity as "head of a foreign government".
The Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act (FSIA)also does not cover acts committed by the foreign officials in their "official capacity," it said.
In April, deputy principal legal advisor of the US State Department had asked the Department of Justice to submit "Suggestion of Immunity" to the court and take necessary steps for dismissal of case against Manmohan Singh.
A Federal Court in Washington had issued summons to Manmohan Singh on charges of "funding several counter insurgency operations in state of Punjab during the 1990s resulting in more than hundred thousand Sikhs being killed extra- judicially by the security forces".
The case against Manmohan Singh was filed during his September 2013 visit under the Alien Tort Claims Act (ATCA) and Torture Victim Protection Act (TVPA).
Comments
| Quick linksNews
National
International
Regional
Politics
Education & Career
Business
Science & Technology
Health
Views & Analysis
The Funny Side
© 2012 Awaz Multimedia & Publications. All rights reserved.
Reservation to Marathas ignoring Muslims will be a blunder: Cong MPHussain Dalwai's warning to the state government came a day after Narayan Rane said in the legislative council that the government will anoounce 20% reservation for Marathas after June 20, the last date of .... More
Also Read: Maharashtra govt to announce reservation for Marathas, mum on Muslims
Fresh clashes between Buddhists and Muslims kill three in Sri LankaThree people have been killed and 37 others are injured in fresh clashes which erupted between Buddhist nationalists and Muslims Sunday in a southern Sri Lankan town, according to the local .... More
Congress and caste parties decimated, whither Indian Muslims?By giving them frontline roles in communal conflicts, the Sangh Parivar has dignified Mochis, Khatiks (fruit sellers), Lohars (blacksmiths), Nayis (barbers), Valmikis (toilet cleaners), dhobis (laundry washers) in large numbers as Hindutva's foot soldiers..... More
Muslim Personal Law Board not against women praying in mosquesIn a welcome change from its earlier stand, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) Saturday said it was not opposed if the doors of mosques were thrown open to women for prayers ... More
Also Read: Clamour for reform grows as Muslim panel meets in Jalgaon