Delhi High Court on Friday informed by Centre that it is not possible for them at this point to evacuate Indian students stranded at the Almaty Airport, Kazakhstan due to complete embargo.
A bench of Justices Siddharth Mridul and Talwant Singh was hearing a plea filed by Shehla Saira seeking evacuation of 115 students from the Almaty Airport, Kazakhstan who stranded there without food, water, transportation and medical aid etc. On the previous hearing Court had issued notice to Central Government and had directed Ministry of external Affairs to appoint a Nodal Officer from the Indian Embassy in Kazakhstan to ensure welfare, wellbeing and safety of all the Indian students.
In their reply, Mr. Jasneet Singh, Standing Counsel of Central Government on behalf of Union of India and Ministry of External Affairs informed the Court that Mr. Martin Cyriac Clemenese was appointed as Nodal Officer for all Indian students in Kazakhstan. All his necessary details have been uploaded on official website of Indian Embassy at Kazakhstan as well as on website of MEA, Government of India.
“It has been admitted that 115 students who had been stranded at Almaty Airport, Kazakhstan have been provided with boarding, lodging and medical assistance in terms of directions issued by this Court earlier on 25 March, 2020”, Centre informed DelhiHC.
It was noted that none of the Indian students were reported to have been infected by Coronavirus.
It was also submitted by Jasneet Singh, that due to lockdown it was not possible to transport the Indian students back to their hostel at Semey Medical University in Kazakhstan.
Also, due to current embargo on Air travel, students can also not be flown back to India. Counsel for Central Government stated that Welfare, safety and well being of Indian students has been ensured by Ministry of External Affairs and all the Indian students will be continued to be provided with food, lodging and medical care.
The Petitioner Shehla Saira through Ms. Fozia Rahman Advocate did not press for any other relief.
In view of that Delhi High Court disposed of the Petition by partially allowing it and ordered that Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India may consider the evacuation of Indian students from Kazakhstan, if it is imperative in their interest and at any stage considered appropriate by them.
-Gurjot Singh