Supreme Court Directs Government to Appoint Nodal Officer for Coordination with Families of Indians Affected by Russia-Ukraine War

Supreme Court's Directive on Coordination for Affected Families

The Supreme Court issued a directive on Friday, instructing the central government to appoint a nodal officer within the Ministry of External Affairs. This officer will be responsible for coordinating with the families of Indians who have been killed, missing, or injured in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The bench, comprising Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohan, also mandated that arrangements be made for DNA matching of the deceased with their relatives.

Furthermore, the court urged the Ministry of External Affairs to assist affected families in filing compensation claims at the Russian embassy located in New Delhi. It emphasized the need for providing all necessary information and updates related to the case in local languages.

The bench also directed the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and state legal services authorities to extend all possible help to families in obtaining the bodies and filing for compensation. These directives were issued during the hearing of a petition filed by the relatives of individuals who allegedly died or went missing after being recruited to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war. The petition highlighted that many individuals were deceived by travel agents and coerced into participating in the conflict.