Supreme Court stays extradition order in British Columbia honour killing case

The B.C. pair, who are accused of killing a girl named Jaswinder (Jassi) Sidhu from Punjab, India, have been allowed to stay in Canada for now.

According to CBC News, the extradition order was put on hold after the court received an appeal of judicial review on Thursday.

Overturning an order passed by a B.C. court, the Supreme Court on September 8, had enforced an extradition order in a B.C. honour killing case to send two Canada residents to India to face charges.

Earlier, a judge of B.C. court passed an order that stopped the extradition of the two accused residents of Canada.

The case, which dates back to 2000, is centred around Jaswinder (Jassi) Sidhu who was found with a cut throat in a canal.

Jassi's mother Malkit Kaur Sidhu and uncle Surjit Singh Badesha were alleged to conspire in the murder case.

It was alleged that both Sidhu and Badesha ordered the killing after Jassi secretly married a poor rickshaw driver instead of their choice.

In 2014, a B.C. judge ordered an extradition of the two accused and also then-justice minister Peter MacKay issued surrender orders, conditional with several assurances from India.

Later, Sidhu and Badesha, made a successful appeal against the extradition citing that the minister did not properly consider the assurances on health grounds.

While Badesha (72) suffers from health related issues, Sidhu (67) was treated in a hospital being in custody for his heart related problems.

The two Canada residents are among 13 who are accused in the case. There are serving life imprisonment.

(Reporting by Souvik Ghosh)