The Supreme Court Monday observed that Indian citizens stranded in various countries due to the COVID-19 pandemic should "stay where they are" after the Centre said it would not be feasible to "selectively evacuate" those who want to return due to various reasons.
A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde said this while hearing through video-conferencing a batch of pleas seeking evacuation of Indian citizens from different countries including United Kingdom and Gulf nations.
"People should stay where they are right now," said the bench, also comprising Justices L Nageswara Rao and M M Shantanagoudar.
When one of the lawyers referred to students stranded in the UK, the bench observed, "Have you seen the affidavit of Union of India? You are secure there. Why do you want to come back?"
In its affidavit filed on a plea seeking evacuation of Indian students stranded in UK, the Centre has given details of the steps taken by the concerned authorities including the Indian High Commission at London to assist Indians there.
Detailing the Centre's position regarding evacuation of Indians from abroad amid coronavirus or COVID-19, the affidavit said the country has a very large Indian community abroad including NRIs and Indian students in foreign countries.
"It is true that the GoI (Government of India) initially undertook some evacuation operations of Indian nationals as also nationals of other countries from China, Japan, Iran and Italy when the situation of coronavirus situation in India was not so grim.