A bench of the Supreme Court today comprising of Justice NV Ramanna, Justice Sanjay Kishan kaul and Justice BR Gavai while hearing a petition seeking evacuation of fishermen stranded in Iran said “let the government handle the situation.”
The petition has been filed by Santha Muthulingam, the wife of a Fisherman stranded in Iran seeking directions to evacuate her husband along with 860 other Fishermen belonging to different Indian States in order to prevent them from dying due to COVID-19, hunger and dehydration.
The bench on the previous hearing had asked the Centre to submit a report on repatriation of the fishermen. Solicitor General appearing for the Central Government submitted the status report which states that the fishermen are in a remote area and it was difficult to reach them.
Senior Counsel Gopal Sankarnarayanan appearing for the petitioner submitted that the fishermen were getting no aid in terms of food, water and other necessities and the government affidavit admitted that the last contact was on 6 March. Hence the government should take steps to provide aid to the fishermen.
SG Mehta submitted that Iran is on inter provincial lockdown. However the Indian Government is in touch with the embassy of Iran and the Iranian authorities have been in touch with around 1000 fishermen over phone.
Gopal Sankaranarayanan thereafter informed the bench that “There’s a memo which shows that bills for food was raised by the company given charge of supplying food three weeks ago. They have not been paid. There has been no supply of food to them for last three weeks”.
SG Mehta replying to Gopal Sankarnarayanan said, “Let’s be factually correct. Earlier you said that there was no arrangement. Now you say that food has stopped”.
Gopal Sankaranarayanan further submitted that the memo had been sent from Iran to them oven WhtasApp.
The Bench observed that “Govt. is helping. Whatever can be done, will be done. Situation has gone out of hand across the world. Embassy should be informed about these issues and action should be taken”
At this juncture Gopal Sankaranarayanan said “They are stranded on boats”.
SG Mehta intervening Sankarnayanan’s submissions said “They are not on boats; they are on long-term visa.”
The bench thereafter said that the fishermen were on long term visa and are speaking to the petitioners through whatsapp, hence, it is most appropriate that the government be given liberty to handle the situation.
–India Legal Bureau