"Remain Conscious Of Difficulties Faced By Indians Stranded In Kuwait & Efforts For Repatriation Continue": Centre Tells Supreme Court

The Supreme Court today asked the Centre to take requisite steps in order to bring back remaining Indians stranded in Kuwait amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vide an affidvit, the Centre informed a bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, R Subhash Reddy and M R Shah that every attempt was being made to bring back stranded Indians from Kuwait. 

The affidavit filed on behalf of the Director (CPV), Ministry of External Affairs states that the Central Government and the Embassy of India in Kuwait remain fully conscious and sensitive to the difficulties faced by the Indians stranded in Kuwait due to the ongoing COVID pandemic and are continuing their efforts to facilitate their travel from Kuwait to India.

It has been informed to the top court that avallabihty of fligfhts is no more a reason for being stranded in Kuwait as till October 1, 2020, a total of 559 flights (including 177 special flights under VBM and 382 chartered and special flights) have already been operated from Kuwait to India. Out of 1,33,000 Indian nationals who had registered with the Embassy for travel to repatriation Kuwait to various destinations in India.

Further to this, the Centre has stated that apart from facilitating travel of stranded Indians, the Embassy of India continues its welfare activities to assist the Indian national in Kuwait, in every manner possible. "In deserving, cases, the Mission is also providing air-tickets to stranded Indians from Indian Community Welfare Fund (on means tested basis)," the Centre has added.

Moreover, foreign airlines such as Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airlines have also been operating sufficient numbers of flights between Kuwait and India and therefore availability of flight is no more a reason for being stranded in Kuwait, it said.

Top Court took fixed the plea filed by the Velinadu Vazh Tamilar Nala Sangam for hearing after 4 weeks.

Earlier, the Court had taken a serious view of a plea highlighting that Indians, mostly  job workers from Tamil Nadu and other parts of the country, were still stranded in quarantine camps and "open spaces" in Kuwait amid the COVID-19 pandemic, awaiting repatriation to their homeland.

The petition said the pandemic may continue for an indefinite period of time and citizens cannot be left stranded in inhuman conditions in a foreign country.