SC asks Centre to explore prioritizing evacuation of pregnant women from Saudi Arabia
New Delhi, May 8 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Centre to examine the possibility of prioritizing the return of some doctors and nurses, who are in the advanced stage of pregnancy, stranded in Saudi Arabia due to the lockdown.
A bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan, S.K. Kaul and B.R. Gavai made this observation after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta contended that as per the standard operating procedure (SOP), priority is already given to the pregnant women, among Indians stranded abroad.
Senior advocate Indira Jaising, representing the petitioners, contended before the bench that pregnancy of these medical professionals is in advance stage and their evacuation should be given priority.
The bench was hearing, through video-conferencing, a plea seeking a direction to the Centre to bring back 18 pregnant medical professionals who are stranded in Saudi Arabia and facing tough time due to coronavirus pandemic. “The government will explore the question of further priority as per the specific cases of the petitioners and shall take appropriate steps accordingly,” said the court disposing of the petition.
The plea was moved through advocate Jose Abraham who sought a direction to the Indian Embassy at Riyadh in Saudi Arabia to ensure the pregnant medical professionals, including one doctor, get the required medical support and also access to proper medical facilities until they are repatriated to India. The plea contended that the petitioners had planned to come back to India on various dates in March and April for their delivery.
The plea said: “However, due to the closure of airports in India for flights from abroad, the flights for which they had booked tickets got cancelled Because of which all the petitioners are stuck in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They are living in vulnerable conditions which could be fatal for both the unborn child and the mother.”
A nationwide lockdown is till May 3.
The plea argued that the petitioners are in the advanced stage of pregnancy and they need to travel back to India before they are in their 36th week of gestation.
–IANS
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