Washington, United States (March 02, 2014): It is learnt that a US Federal Judge in Washington has granted a Sikh rights group, Sikhs For Justice, the right to serve a notice on Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh through the Hague Service Convention.
As per information [u]nder the February 28, 2014 order, Judge James E Boasberg states: “Plaintiffs shall by April 14, 2014, either file proof of service or file a status report updating the Court on their progress in effecting service”.
While giving details, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, Legal Advisor, Sikhs For Justice (SJF), informed that the SFJ had filed a motion with the court requesting extension of time to serve a notice on Indian Prime Minister Singh in India.
In support of its motion, SFJ submitted a copy of the engagement letter retaining “Process Forwarding International” (PFI), a Washington-based firm to serve a summons on Dr. Manmohan Singh in India as per the Hague Service Convention.
The human rights violation law suit against Prime Minister has been filed under the Alien Tort Claims Act (ATCA) and the Torture Victim Protection Act (TVPA) of 2013.
Under ATCA and TVPA, the US Federal Courts have jurisdiction over cases of human rights violations even if they have occurred on foreign soils as in this case.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun reportedly said that though they supported the United States findings that most significant human rights problems in India were police and security force abuses, as pointed out in the 2013 US report, but they would approach the Secretary of State with the evidence and documents about the involvement of Congress (I), the ruling party of India in organizing the genocidal violence against Sikhs in November 1984.