NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice to the Centre on a petition seeking immediate evacuation of Indian students stranded in the UK due to lockdown and air travel restrictions in both the countries on account of COVID-19 pandemic.
Asking the government to respond to the petition filed by advocate Madhurima Mridul, a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde requested Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta to take urgent instructions in the matter and posted it for hearing on April 13.
“Indian students in the UK are left with no option but to fight for their sustenance away from their families in India. While the UK government is helping international students and is ensuring that they are not evicted from university accommodations, those who live in private apartments are in many cases not being able to pay rents or afford basic sustenance,” the petitioner submitted.
Mridul sought to highlight the worsening condition in the UK and suspension of all international flights.
Since March 23, India too has banned all international flights since March 23 till April 14. Many Indian students who had booked tickets can’t fly to India and remained stranded in the UK due to this ban.
“India is probably the only country that has imposed an embargo on the return of its own citizens, and where other countries are making all possible efforts to repatriate their citizens stranded in various countries, India with its travel bans has made it impossible for its own citizens to come back home,” the petitioner submitted.
The plea brings to the light the greater risk of contracting COVID-19 that the
Indian students were at greater risk of being exposed to COVID-19 as they were crammed into packed hostels with shared kitchens and bathroom facilities, the petitioner said, adding many of them were running out of finances and facing shortage of food and water.
“They have not been able to access any protective masks, gloves or sanitizers and are worried about contracting the deadly virus while miles away from their loved ones in India,” the petitioner submitted.
A blanket order preventing Indian citizens from returning back home was arbitrary and violated their right to life and liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution, the petitioner submitted.
She said till the evacuation takes place, it must be ensured that the Indian students’ needs were taken care of.