Kulbhushan Jadhav Case LIVE: Rajnath Singh hails ICJ verdict as big victory of India

In a major diplomatic victory for India on the global front, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Wednesday suspended the death sentence to Indian citizen Kulbhushan Jadhav, who had been sentenced to death by a military court in Pakistan.  49-year-old Jadhav, a retired Indian Navy officer, was sentenced to death by the Pakistani military court on charges of "espionage and terrorism" after a closed trial in April 2017. His sentencing evoked a sharp reaction in India because he was put to trial in a military court, instead of a civil court. President of the Court Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf will read out the verdict during a public sitting which will take place at 3 pm (6.30 pm IST) on Wednesday at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands.

Check all the live updates here:

7:25 pm: We welcome the ruling by the International Court of Justice in the Kulbhushan Jhadhav case. This is a big win for India & we will continue to pray for his early return.

6:58 pm: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh: International Court of Justice has directed Pakistan to grant consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav. It is no doubt a big victory for India.

6:44 pm: ICJ: Court finds that Pakistan deprived India of the right to communicate with and have access to Kulbhushan Jadhav, to visit him in detention& to arrange for his legal representation,and thereby breached obligations incumbent upon it under Vienna Convention on Consular Relations

6:42 pm: International Court of Justice verdict: A continued stay of execution constitutes an indispensable condition for the effective review and reconsideration of the conviction and sentence of Mr. Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav.

6:40 pm: I hope the verdict will provide the much needed solace to the family members of Kulbhushan Jadhav.

6:38 pm: I wholeheartedly welcome the verdict of International Court of Justice in the case of Kulbhushan Jadhav. It is a great victory for India. I thank the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for our initiative to take Jadhav's case before International Court of Justice.

6:35 pm: Court has also said Jadhav’s death sentence should remain suspended until Pakistan effectively reviews and reconsiders the conviction/sentence in light of Pakistan’s breach of Art 36(1) ie denial of consular access and notification: Omer

6:30 pm: Reema Omer, International Legal Advisor, South Asia: ICJ has ruled in favour of India on merits, affirming Jadhav’s right to consular access and notification. The Court has directed Pakistan to provide effective review and reconsideration of his conviction and sentences

5:50 pm: Hague, Netherlands: Team from Indian Embassy arrives at International Courts of Justice for Kulbhushan Jadhav case's verdict.

Hague, Netherlands: Team from Indian Embassy arrives at International Courts of Justice for #KulbhushanJadhav case's verdict pic.twitter.com/zP8g9vRwyc

— ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2019

 3: 33 pm: India’s lead counsel Harish Salve on the Kulbhushan Jadhav case will be holding a press briefing at the High Commission of India on the matter in London at 1600 hours (GMT).

3:30 pm: The last time the two countries approached the ICJ was in September 1999.

3:20 pm: The verdict in the high-profile case comes nearly five months after a 15-member bench of ICJ led by Judge Yusuf had reserved its decision on February 21 after hearing oral submissions by India and Pakistan. 

3:00 pm: The proceedings of the case took two years and two months to complete.

2:45 pm: India moved the ICJ in May 8, 2017 for the "egregious violation" of the provisions of the Vienna Convention by Pakistan by repeatedly denying New Delhi consular access to Jadhav.

2:30 pm: A bench of the ICJ, which was set up after World War II to resolve international disputes, on May 18, 2017 had restrained Pakistan from executing Jadhav till adjudication of the case.

2:45 pm: On November 19, 1999, the Court had decided that the written pleadings would first address the question of the jurisdiction of the Court in the case.