SC asks Centre to explore giving further priority to pregnant women in evacuation from Saudi Arabia
On 8th May, Centre was asked by the Supreme Court to explore the further priority question as raised by the petitioners in regards to the bringing back of the pregnant women doctors and nurses who are at their final stage (that is the third trimester of their pregnancy) and is not able to return due to the prevailing COVID-19 and lockdown conditions and are therefore stranded in Saudi Arabia.
The case was listed before the bench comprising of Justice Ashok Bhushan, Sanjay Kishan Kaul, and BR Gavai, whereas the Centre is represented by the Indian Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted that for bringing those women SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) is already being followed and under those guideline bases following clause 2(iii), priority is already given to the pregnant women for their evacuation from abroad to Indian boundaries.
However, on another side of the Senior Advocate Indira Jaising representing the petitioners in the PIL, on the basis of Article 32 of Constitution of India and filed by Adv. Jose Abraham stated that these doctors and nurses stranded in Saudi Arabia are left in “vulnerable conditions” and there is a need to bring them soon, as they are in their crucial time are left with no family care and access to any medical facility. Also, she stated that the Government is duty bound under Article 21 and Article 14 of the Constitution to not only to protect the child’s life but also to provide equal protection.
Further, the plea also sought directions to Indian Embassy at Riyadh in Saudi Arabia to take measures so as to ensure that till the time they are being evacuated to take care of these pregnant medical professionals to let them access proper medical facilities and care.
The bench thereby while disposing of the matter, noted the efforts are already made by the Centre to bring back stranded Indians who due to lockdown and travel restrictions are not able to return back, they thereby made the remark to the government to explore the question of “further priority” for such specified issue of the petitioners and to pass further appropriate orders so required,
Submitted by
Sakshi Raje INBA, Student Reporter