Extradition: An Essential Process For Countries To Bring Absconding Offenders To Justice

Extradition can be considered a co-operative law enforcement process between two countries that is formalised and regulated by a treaty; this enables one government to hand over an accused or a convict to the country where they are charged or convicted, ensuring that offenders do not evade justice by simply crossing borders. India is no stranger to extradition, with ample headlines capturing its attempts to extradite certain economic offenders who have fled to the UK in the recent past.

The Ministry of External Affairs is the Central Authority that governs the extradition of fugitives and Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty related requests in India. A request for extradition can be made by a Law Enforcement Agency or a Court may also, in appropriate complaint cases, send an extradition request submitted by the agencies. The sum and substance of this is covered under India's 'The Extradition Act, 1962' (the Act).