Six poor women in Andhra Pradesh have sought the State Human Rights Commission's (SHRC) nod to sell their kidneys to raise 'blood money' for the release of their husbands jailed in Dubai
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The women from Karimnagar district petitioned the SHRC that they be permitted to sell their kidneys as they were not in a position to pay the money to secure the freedom of their husbands.
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The SHRC Monday issued notices to the principal secretary, the NRI cell in the general administration department and the Protector of Immigrants of the ministry of overseas Indian affairs to submit reports by Jan 17.
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The six construction workers, convicted for the murder of a Nepali guard, have been serving sentences in Dubai jail for seven years.
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Shivarathri Mallesh, S. Ravi, Nampelli Venkati, D. Laxman, S. Hanumanthu and Syed Kareem hailed from different villages in Karimnagar district.u00a0
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Five of them were sentenced for 24 years and one for 10 years. Their wives, however, believe that they were innocent but did not get legal aid.u00a0
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Quoting the Shariat law of Dubai, they said in their petition that the kin of the dead person may pardon the accused on receipt of compensation known as 'blood money'.
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According to them, the wife of the Nepali guard had agreed to condone the crime if she was paid Rs.15 lakh. She made the offer after the Indian consulate in Dubai held negotiations with her.
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The petitioners said since they were not in a position to arrange such a huge amount and their requests to the state and the central governments for help evoked no response, they be permitted to sell their kidneys.
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They also brought to the notice of the commission that Kerala and Punjab governments along with some philanthropists extended financial assistance in similar cases.
