The Supreme Court on Monday was informed by Attorney General K.K. Venugopal that the Government of India (GoI) has so far evacuated 22,000 people and that it was taking care of Indian citizens still in Ukraine.
The petition seeking evacuation of Indians stranded in war-torn Ukraine came up for hearing before the Bench of Chief Justice N.V. Ramana and Justice Krishna Murari.
With the AG’s submission,
Noting this, the CJI said nothing survives in the matter and disposed of the writ petitions filed by Fathima Ahana, Vishal Tiwari and others, which had sought directions to the Centre to immediately take steps and measures to evacuate stranded Indian citizens from Ukraine.
Earlier on March 4, the Attorney General had apprised the Court that the petitioner and persons accompanying her, who had requested to be evacuated will most likely reach India tonight.
“She and the persons accompanying her will reach India tonight,” Venugopal informed Court.
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The AG further assured the Court that, “The government of India is as concerned about the plight of Indians in Ukraine as this Court is.”
The Apex Court Bench of CJI Ramana, Justice A.S. Bopanna and Justice Hima Kohli had requested AG Venugopal to look into the plight of certain students stranded in the Romanian/Moldovan border, owing to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine and help in their evacuation.
Senior Advocate A.M. Dar, appearing for the petitioner, mentioned the matter before the bench today.
He said,
“They (the students) are from Odessa, Ukraine and have come to the Romanian border. The government of India is operating flights from Hungary and Poland but not from Romania. They are without money, water and it’s -7 degrees there.”
The AG informed the Court that after the receipt of petition from SC, the information was sent to the Personal Assistant to the Prime Minister of India, P. K. Mishra.
The same was conveyed to Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia, who is stationed in Romania to oversee the evacuation process.
The CJI thanked the Government for its effort and enquired as to how many Indians were now stranded in Ukraine.
The AG informed Court, “The news says there are around 7000 Indians now. The Prime Minister has ensured that all of them are being taken care of. As it is, there were 25,000 Indians, and 17,000 have already been evacuated.”
The AG further submitted that many PILs in this regard are still being filed despite the Supreme Court being seized of the matter.
The CJI told the AG, “Bring it to the notice of the High Courts that we are seized of the matter. Inform your counsels there.”
Case Name: Fatima Ahan vs Union of India & Vishal Tiwari Vs Union of India