Russia-Ukraine Conflict : Supreme Court Agrees To Take Up Plea To Evacuate Stranded Indian Students

The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to take up a petition seeking the evacuation of Indian students stranded in Ukraine amid the Russian invasion. The petition was mentioned before the Chief Justice of India today morning.

The CJI agreed to take up the matter and said that he will seek the assistance of the Attorney General for India KK Venugopal.

Senior Advocate AM Dar mentioned before the Chief Justice of India that several Indian students were stuck at the Romanian border.

"What can the Court do? Can I give directions to the President of Russia to stop the war?", CJI Ramana asked the lawyer. "On social media I saw some video saying what is the CJI doing!", the CJI added.

The lawyer submitted that the petition was seeking directions to the Centre to take steps to evacuate the students. The lawyer pointed out that most of the students were girls and they were suffering in freezing temperatures.

"We have all sympathies with them. But what can the Court do", the CJI replied while adding that the Government was taking steps to take care of the students.

"What do you expect the Court to do? Government is already doing something", the CJI said. Pressing the case, the lawyer said that around 30 girl students are stuck at the Ukranian border for about 6 days without food.

The CJI said that he will ask the Attorney General for India to find out the situation and will list the matter.

"We will ask the Attorney General to find out. You wait, we will take it up", the CJI told the lawyer at the end.

Update at 12.15 PM :

When the Attorney General appeared later in another matter, CJI spoke to him about this issue.

The CJI urged the Attorney General for India KK Venugopal to use his good offices to help the Indian students who are stranded in Ukraine amid the Russian invasion.

"There are 1000 of students like this but some have come here... we can't say no, please use your good offices and do something", Chief Justice of India NV Ramana told the AG.

The AG asked if the students, in respect of whom the petition has been filed, have crossed the Ukraine border. Senior Advocate AM Dar, appearing for the petitioners, submitted that they haven't crossed.

"Government of India has sent a Minister to Romania to make sure once they cross they come back. So I want to know what's the problem", the AG submitted.

"They haven't crossed as yet, where they are.. it is in Ukraine, they weren't allowed to travel, that's the problem", Dar said.

The CJI asked the counsel to give the copy of the petition to the AG. "Please look and see if you can help", the CJI told the AG.