The signing of a treaty to transfer prisoners between India and Qatar was cleared by the Union Cabinet today.
The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cleared the signing of the pact.
The treaty, once signed, will facilitate Indian prisoners in Qatar or vice-versa to be near their families for serving the remaining part of their sentence and help in their social rehabilitation.
Prior to 2004, there was no domestic legislation under which foreign prisoners could be transferred to the country of their origin to serve the remaining part of their sentence nor was there a provision for transfer of prisoners of Indian origin convicted by a foreign court to serve their sentence in India.
To overcome the hurdle, the Repatriation of Prisoners Act, 2003 was enacted. Under the Act, a treaty or an agreement is required to be signed with countries having mutual interest with India.
India has so far signed such agreements with the United Kingdom, Mauritius, Bulgaria, Brazil, Cambodia, Egypt, France, Bangladesh, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kuwait, Sri Lanka, the UAE, the Maldives, Thailand, Turkey, Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Israel, Russia, Vietnam and Australia.
Negotiations have also been concluded with Canada, Hong Kong, Nigeria and Spain, an official statement said here.
