New Delhi, Sep 16 - Delhi High Court Wednesday took a serious view of the fact that a prisoner of war (POW) of unsound mind has been languishing in a Pakistani jail since 1965 and asked the central government what steps were being taken to ensure his and other POWs' release.

A division bench comprising of Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justice Manmohan asked the home ministry to file a detailed reply, as to what steps it has taken for the release of the prisoners, within four weeks and slated the matter for Oct 21, the next date of hearing.

'It's pathetic. A person who has lost his memory and has become of unsound mind, is languishing in jail for the last 44 years,' the bench said.