Allow Cookies!
By using our website, you agree to the use of cookies
The Supreme Court today issued notice in a petition seeking directions to the centre for evacuation of about 850 Indian citizens stranded in Qom, Iran amid the worldwide health emergency of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The bench comprising Justices DY Chandrachud and Surya Kant issued notice to the Centre and Solicitor General in an urgent listing for the aforesaid case, wherein hearing was conducted via Video Conferencing on the “Video” app.
The contents of the petition under Article 32 do indicate that there is an urgent need for humanitarian assistance to be provided to the pilgrims who are stranded in Qam. In order to facilitate their welfare the court is of the view that notice is required to be issued to the Union of India.
Senior Advocate Sanjay Hedge appearing for the Petitioner had averred that as many as 250 the people who had visited Iran as pilgrims were “mostly from a poor financial background” and were required to return home in the beginning of this month. However, the pandemic completely changed the course of their journey.
In the petition it was prayed that such pilgrims should be provided with appropriate health/medical facilities and appropriate accommodation to such pilgrims till such time as the Respondents are in a position to evacuate them safely to India.
Depicting the plight of the stranded citizens, it was stated that most of the pilgrims are out of funds and are dependent upon the philanthropy of the locals. In furtherance to this helplessness the petitioners have been consistently sending SOS videos and messages via social media but have not been able to get any relief.
Appreciating the efforts of the Central Government in relation to evacuate measures of the pilgrims in China, Italy and Iran the Petitioner highlighted that the stranded citizens have however been unable to receive appropriate health care or evacuation measures.
We request Mr. Tushaar Mehta, the Ld. Solicitor General to assist the court and to apprise the court on a status report of the steps which have been and which the Union of India proposes to undertake to alleviate the hardship which is being faced by these persons. We hope and trust that in the meantime all necessary steps that are required to protect the welfare of these citizens will be adopted and there is suitable plan of action will be chalked out in consultation with all the concerned including the Indian Embassy in Iran.
86540
103860
630
114
59824