Celina lost her attempt in the Delhi High Court to make them let her get in touch with Major Vikrant Kumar Jaitly, who has been detained in the United Arab Emirates for over a year and a half. The court ended her request for help after being told Vikrant doesn’t want to talk to Celina and doesn’t want to use the lawyer she picked for him.
The court case and why the court decided as it did:
Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav and his team ended Celina Jaitly’s petition because the Ministry of External Affairs said Vikrant very clearly stated he doesn’t want to contact his sister. The court said they must respect what he wants, and didn’t see a reason to continue looking into the matter. The judge added that the government has already done what Celina asked for, so the petition could be closed. The court made their decision based on promises and statements from Indian government officials.
What the government explained to the court:
Chetan Sharma, the Additional Solicitor General, told the court that Major Vikrant Jaitly does not want to be represented by any of the law firms Celina wants him to use. Vikrant has said he will make all decisions about his lawyer by himself, and his wife, Charul, will be the one he listens to. A meeting at the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi on February 18th is what this information comes from; after that meeting, officials told the court that Vikrant wants to avoid speaking to Celina and wants to leave all legal decisions to his wife.
How the Embassy has been with Vikrant and about legal help:
The Delhi High Court has on the record that the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi has been in regular touch with Vikrant – they’ve made contact nine times since he was detained. The court told the government (the Centre) to continue providing legal help and to make sure he is okay. Records show that he has been allowed to speak to advisors at the embassy, and officials have spoken to him many times. All of this is why the court decided to close the petition.
How Celina Jaitly responded and what she said on Instagram:
After the court ruled, Celina Jaitly put a personal message on Instagram thanking both the court and the government. She said she only filed the petition because she was worried about her brother’s safety, how he’s being treated and his dignity while he’s being held in another country. Celina admitted she is dealing with problems in her own marriage at the same time, and said she felt she had to protect her brother because their parents are not around to do so. She thanked her legal team and said the government’s assurances have made her feel calmer and more confident.
What the legal and diplomatic issues are:
This case shows how much influence the courts have when someone who is being held says something different from what a family member wants. Courts and embassies usually have to find a balance between what the family wants, what the individual being detained wants to do, and the legal processes in the country where they are being held. Embassies can allow the person to be visited by a consul and help with legal issues, but they also have to respect the person’s wishes about who they talk to and who represents them. The fact that the court closed this case demonstrates how important those wishes are in cases where someone is detained in another country.
What happens now and what to look out for:
Now that the petition is closed, the government is still responsible for making sure Vikrant Jaitly gets legal help and support from the consulate. People will probably be watching to see if the embassy continues to be in contact with him as they have been, and if family members try to take any further legal action. Right now, everything is relying on what was said in court and what Vikrant himself has said he wants. If Vikrant changes his mind or something new happens in the legal case in the UAE, the family could ask the Indian authorities to do something again or the courts could look at the case again.
