Can we ask Putin to stop the war, asks CJI Ramana while hearing plea on Indian students stranded in Ukraine

Can we ask [Russian President Vladimir] Putin to stop the war?," asked Chief Justice of India NV Ramana while hearing a plea seeking direction to the government to provide relief to Indian students stranded in war-hit Ukraine.

"What can we do in this matter? Tomorrow, you will ask us to issue orders to Putin...Can we ask Putin to stop the war? We have full sympathy and concern with the students. The government of India is doing its job," CJI NV Ramana said on Thursday.

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What does the plea say

The family of a student stranded in Ukraine moved the Supreme Court claiming that students are stranded at the Moldova-Romania border without any aid being extended from the Indian government.

The plea filed by the family of 24-year-old Fathima Ahana, a female medical student, states that around 250 Indian students from Odessa University have made their way to the Moldova-Romania border.

The plea said that these students had been stranded there for around six days with no permission to cross into Romania.

The plea also called for the court's intervention to "secure permission for the Petitioner to cross the check point in Moldova from Ukraine en route to Romania for boarding the Air India evacuation flight".

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The plea said that these students have not been permitted to cross the Ukraine border and enter Moldova. "There is no response from Indian Authorities on whether these students will be able to get an evacuation flight," it said.

The petition also demanded that the court should issue orders to "take effective diplomatic steps and measures for the evacuation of the Petitioner including other stranded students from Ukraine to India."

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The plea filed by the student's family even sought directions to the Indian government to "ensure the essential and emergency supplies like medical, housing and lodging facilities and supply of food and other essential necessities for the stranded students".

What the court said

The plea was mentioned before the bench headed by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana for an urgent hearing on Thursday morning.

As the matter was mentioned by senior advocate AM Dar, the CJI bench initially asked whether it is possible for the court to intervene in the matter.

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"Do you want us to pass orders to Putin to stop the war?," asked the court. However, the court then asked the Attorney General, appearing for the government of India, to look into the issue.

AG KK Venugopal, who appeared via video conference, informed the court that a senior union minister had been sent to Romania to facilitate the evacuation process.

"The government of India has sent a minister to these countries to facilitate evacuation and ensure that once they cross, they get a flight. That's why I'm asking if they are being stopped from crossing?" asked KK Venugopal.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court said it would send a copy of the plea to the AG office and the AG can look into the issue with the concerned authorities.