Khozikode MP files PIL in Apex Court seeking evacuation of Indian Citizens stranded in Gulf Countries.
(Judicial Quest News Network)
Lok Sabha MP form Kozhikode, Kerala, MK Raghavan, filed a PIL in Apex Court seeking the urgent evacuation of Indian stranded in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations.
The petitioner urged the Supreme Court to direct the Centre to lift the ban imposed on international flights after the sudden and unprecedented outbreak of COVID-19.
He further submits that the ban on international flights should be lifted to bring back the stranded Indian Citizens “through a commercial flight or through a chartered flight that may be arranged by some operators”
The petitioner further submits that “Following these requests, the Petitioner made a representation to the Ministry
of External Affairs, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Shipping, and
Government of Kerala requesting urgent permission for operating chartered
flights between India and GCC Nations and take other appropriate measures to
repatriate Indian citizens stranded therein. However, no positive response has
been obtained regarding the said representation. With due consideration to the
imperative need for timely intervention, the Petitioner herein has approached this Hon’ble Court.”
The Petitioner seeks the urgent evacuation of the Indian Citizens stranded in GCC countries and submits following suggestions
“the
Petitioner proposes certain suggestions in order to facilitate their safe return,
keeping in mind that all such Indians belong to different strata of the society.
The suggestions are as follows:
A. Establishment of a specialised team in the Embassy in each of the GCC
Nations and in India, solely dedicated to redress the concerns raised by
the Indians in these nations, with traceable contact numbers and e-mail
addresses in order to ensure timely assistance.
B. Determination of the total number of citizens who are stranded &
facing difficulties in GCC Nations and who are wanting to return to
India. Assistance of various organizations/individuals who are willing
to offer their services may be availed for the same.
C. Prioritising of urgent cases who need immediate repatriation like
pregnant women, those suffering from serious illnesses,
immunocompromised, those who have to attend to any calamity in the
family in India, those whose visas have expired, those who have lost
their jobs, those whose sponsorship is being cancelled, those who have
been tested negative for COVID-19 etc.;
D. Financial assistance from the Union of India to ensure smooth
repatriation for majority of those citizens, since most of them are engaged
in blue collar jobs with daily/manual wages and would thus, not be in a
financial position to fund their travel back home;
E. Government initiatives to bring back desirous Indians stranded in GCC
Nations may be ensured either through airways or waterways wherever
possible;
F. Lifting of ban on international flights and grant of specific approval for
these special flights as there are many among the stranded population,
who are desirous of returning to India at their own cost & expense, be it
through commercial flight or through a chartered flight that maybe
arranged by some operators;
G. Ensuring timely decision-making with regard to grant of permission
for airlines willing to assist the Government in ensuring the return of
Indians stranded in GCC Nations and;
H. Deputation of a medical team to GCC Nations to ensure adequate
medical assistance is provided to those who are infected by COVID-19
with due regard to the laws and regulations of such nations.”
The Petition is filed by Advocates A.Karthik and Sarveshwar K.
[Read the Petition]
