'Stay Where You Are' : CJI Says Students Stranded In UK Amid COVID-19 Cannot Be Brought Back Right Now

The Supreme Court on Monday observed that Indian students who are stranded in United Kingdom cannot be brought back right now.

'Stay where you are', the CJI observed, taking note of the affidavit filed by the Central Government detailing the measures adopted for the welfare of students stranded in UK.

The Supreme Court also heard few other petitions seeking evacuation of Indian citizens stranded abroad, ranging from students, working professionals, unskilled workers and fishermen in UK, USA, Iran & other Gulf Countries.

The Court has adjourned those pleas for four weeks.

As regards the petition filed by Congress MP M K Raghavan seeking repatriation of Indians from Gulf countries, the Court asked the Centre to consider the suggestions put forth by the petitioner in his representation regarding the welfare measures for Indian citizens stranded in those countries.

The Solicitor General Tushar Mehta also added that it was impossible to bring back people to India during this crisis and that he had reiterated this stand in the Affidavit, already filed on behalf of the Union.

"All over the world people are getting extensions, in my affidavit, I have clearly mentioned that right now it is not possible" stated Mehta.

A separate petition for evacuation of Indian citizens from the USA was also heard by the Supreme Court today which was filed by Senior Advocate Vibha Datta Makhija.

The court directed the Centre to file its response on the petitions seeking evacuation of Indians in USA & of Indian Fishermen standed in Iran before April 20, 2020.

Amid a complete lockdown in India, the central government on March 26,2020 had extended the ban on international flights till April 14.

However, the restrictions would not apply to cargo flights or those specially permitted by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), according to the latest advisory by the civil aviation ministry.

Before the said decision was rolled out, the government had imposed ban on international flights for a week from March 22 to March 29. Domestic flights had been already suspended till March 31, 2020.

In light of this, there were a slew of petitions which were filed by various petitioners seeking repatriation & relief for their family members, friends, colleagues etc. who were stranded in foreign countries.

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Click here to read Central Government's Reply