Goa, July 11 -- The Supreme Court of India on Thursday agreed to urgently hear a petition seeking the Centre's immediate diplomatic intervention to stop the July 16 execution of Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya in Yemen. The court scheduled the hearing for July 14, just two days before the scheduled execution.

The plea was filed by the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council, urging the government to use diplomatic channels to negotiate a possible 'blood money' settlement under Shariah law. This option could allow the victim's family to pardon Nimisha in exchange for compensation, potentially sparing her life.

Appearing for the petitioners, Senior Advocate Ragenth Basant underscored the urgency of the matter, given the rapidly approac...