The Supreme Court (SC) has instructed the government to bring Nepalis stranded at the border with India and in other countries who want to come to Nepal into the country, and make arrangements for food and accommodation failing so.
A joint bench of Justice Deepak Kumar Karki and Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma hearing the petition filed by advocate Meena Basnet and Madhav Basnet, and another by Manish Kumar Shrestha has given the order on Tuesday.
"Make necessary arrangements to identify Nepali citizens facing problems in food and accommodation and treatment or facing crisis abroad, and bring them to Nepal coordinating with the countries concerned through means of diplomacy," the SC has ordered. "If that is not immediately possible take necessary initiative to safeguard the rights of citizens by making appropriate arrangements for them to stay and eat and their treatment where they are."
The Apex Court has also ordered to maintain necessary record of those coming from abroad without coordinating with the government and keep them in quarantine. It has instructed the government to facilitate foreign stay of Nepalis through coordination with the country concerned if their passport or visa has expired.
It has ordered the government to make arrangements for those stranded at the border points in India if they cannot be brought home.
Over 700 Nepalis are stranded in Dharchula, India across the Mahakali river from Darchula and been quarantined there.
Prime Minister (PM) KP Sharma Oli during the address to nation Tuesday revealed that a total of 2,147 Nepalis have been quarantined in India in coordination with the Indian government. PM Oli added that they would be allowed in only after health check-up in a few days.
