HC seeks Centre stand on plea to evacuate Indian students stranded in coronavirus-hit Iran

Delhi High Court Tuesday sought Centre's response on a plea by parents of Indian students stranded in Iran due to coronavirus outbreak for evacuating m. Justice I S Mehta issued tice to ministries of home, external affairs, health and aviation and asked m to file a status report on steps being taken by m to evacuate students.

Central government standing counsel Anurag Ahluwalia, who appeared for ministries, accepted tice and said a status report would be filed on steps being taken. court, reafter, listed matter for furr hearing on March 11. petition has also sought directions to Ministry of External Affairs to provide basic medical aid and safety materials like masks and sanitisers to stranded students till y are evacuated.

plea, filed through vocate Miriam Fozia Rahman, has said that after coronavirus infection was detected in various Iranian cities, several universities re decided to close down colleges and hostel facilities and also cancelled exams. It said that students, some of whom are residents of Jammu and Kashmir, have been vised to return to ir countries.

However, Indian student were "shocked and surprised" when y found out that re were flights to India from Iran, petition has said. It also said that all efforts to seek help and support from Indian Embassy in Iran "has failed". plea has said that government h recently arranged special flights to safely evacuate Indian students from China, Japan and Italy and has urged that similar steps be taken for those stranded in Iran.