[COVID-19] Will provide all reasonable assistance to Indian woman stranded in New York without a job: Centre assures Delhi HC

The Central Government yesterday assured the Delhi High Court that the Deputy Consulate General of India would provide all reasonable assistance to an Indian woman who had lost her job and was now stranded in New York due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Smita Dutta Makhija vs UOI).The statement was made by the Central Government counsel before a Division Bench of Justices Manmohan and Sanjeev Narula. .The Court was hearing a writ petition filed by the parents of an Indian citizen who was residing in Brooklyn, New York. The parents had primarily sought issuance of direction to ensure the safety and evacuation of Indian citizens, particulary their daughter, from United States of America..When the matter was taken up the Court, the parents stated that they did not wish to press the relief for evacuation at this stage. .They nonetheless informed the Court that their daughter was facing immense mental and emotional stress and trauma as she had recently lost her job and all her flatmates had also left..The parents thus prayed that in the interim, the Indian Consulate in New York be asked to arrange accommodation for their daughter at reduced rent and at a safe place in this hour of crisis..In response, the Central Government stated that it has appointed a Nodal Officer in New York, USA, to offer all possible help and assistance to all Indian citizens and to ensure their well being..It was assured that the telephone number and e-mail ID of the Deputy Consulate General of India in New York would be shared with the counsel for the parents and further, the Deputy Consulate General would also get in touch with the daughter..It was added the Deputy Consulate General would provide all reasonable assistance to the Petitioner’s daughter, including facilitation in obtaining accommodation in a safe place at a reduced rate..The Court adjourned hearing in the matter after recording that the Central Government would be held to be bound by the assurance given by it..The matter would be heard next on May 8..The parents were represented by Senior Advocate Vibha Datta Makhija with Advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal..Central Government was represented by Standing Counsel Jasmeet Singh..Read the Order: