Centre Tells SC That Evacuation Of Indians Stranded Abroad Shall Commence From May 7 [Read Order]

While taking on record submissions of the Centre that all "Indians in various countries will be brought back", the Supreme Court on Tuesday disposed off a plea seeking repatriation of migrant workers stranded at the India-Nepal border in Uttarakhand.

Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves appearing for petitioner(s) submitted that,

"1000 nepali workers had to go back to Nepal. A large number have been sent back. The remaining problem is 214 have not been sent back from champawar, loharghat and bhanu bazaar. Government must know that in these places workers are still stranded" 

Further to this, Gonsalves emphasised on the "second issue", i.e. of "1000 Indians stranded in Nepal in precarious situation. Government has issued a notification yesterday that they will bring back indians stranded abroad."

In this backdrop, a bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, Sanjay Kishan Kaul & BR Gavai heard the Centre's stand that from May 7 onwards, all standed Indians in various countries would be brought back, including those struck in Nepal via chartered flights.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta stated that "all Indians stranded in various countries could be brought back in special chartered flights, these indians in nepal would also be brought back"

The Government of India had stated on Monday that it will be facilitating the return of Indian nationals stranded abroad on compelling grounds in a phased manner, travel for which shall be arranged by aircraft and naval ships.

On April 30, the Supreme Court had sought the the stand of the Centre in the aforementioned petition seeking direction to the Centre to ensure safe passage to these workers to Nepal, and had asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to get instructions from the government in this regard.

The plea had been filed by Ganga Giri Goswami in the apex court challenging the April 20 order of the Uttarakhand High Court which had observed that "no direction can be issued to the central government to expedite repatriation of the Nepali citizens through diplomatic channels, as issuance of such a direction would amount to encroachment in the field reserved for the Union Government".

The HC had noted in its order,

"Even otherwise also, petitioner himself admits that, in view of the pandemic caused by COVID-19 virus, Nepal Government has also declared a nationwide lockdown and no-one is permitted to cross Nepal border,"

Click here to download the Order