[Cites 1, Cited by 0]
Madras High Court
Ruth Baby Thason vs The Foreign Secretary on 12 March, 2026
Author: N.Sathish Kumar
Bench: N.Sathish Kumar
W.P(MD)No.6803 of 2026
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
DATED : 12.03.2026
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.SATHISH KUMAR
and
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.JOTHIRAMAN
W.P(MD)No.6803 of 2026
Ruth Baby Thason ... Petitioner
vs.
1.The Foreign Secretary,
Ministry of External Affairs (Embassy of India),
Government of India, South Block, Raisina Hill,
New Delhi – 110 011.
2.The Secretary,
Department of Fisheries,
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying,
Government of India, Krishi Bhavan,
Dr.Rajendra Prasad Road,
New Delhi – 110 001.
3.The Principal Secretary,
Department of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare,
Government of Tamil Nadu,
Secretariat, Fort St. George,
Chennai – 600 009.
1/8
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 16/03/2026 02:58:58 pm )
W.P(MD)No.6803 of 2026
4.The Chief Secretary,
Government of Tamil Nadu,
Secretariat, Fort St. George,
Chennai – 600 009.
5.The Ambassador,
Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Man in India,
5, Barakhamba Road,
New Delhi – 110 000, India.
6.The Commissioner,
Commissionerate of Rehabilitation and Welfare
of Non-Resident Tamils,
Government of Tamil Nadu,
No.56, Anna Salai, Nandanam,
Chennai - 600035.
7.The District Collector,
Kanyakumari District,
Collectorate, Nagercoil,
Kanyakumari District – 629 001. ... Respondents
PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India
praying for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to
take immediate diplomatic and administrative measures to ensure the safety,
protection, rescue and evacuation of Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu who
are presently stranded in Iran due to the prevailing war conflict situation, to
provide them necessary emergency assistance including food,
accommodation and medical support through the Indian Mission, and
2/8
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 16/03/2026 02:58:58 pm )
W.P(MD)No.6803 of 2026
arrange for safe repatriation of Indian fishermen stranded in Iran including
approximately 88 fishermen from Kadiyapattanam Village and other
fishermen from Tamil Nadu.
For Petitioner : Mr.W.Cleetus
For Respondents : Mr.K.Govindarajan (R1 & R5)
Deputy Solicitor General of India
: Mr.A.Kannan (R2 to R4, R6 & R7)
Additional Government Pleader
ORDER
(Order of the Court was made by N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.)
The present Writ Petition has been filed seeking a direction to
the respondents to take immediate diplomatic and administrative measures to
ensure the safety, protection, rescue and evacuation of Indian fishermen
from Tamil Nadu who are presently stranded in Iran due to the prevailing
war-conflict situation, to provide them necessary emergency assistance
including food, accommodation and medical support through the Indian
Mission, and to arrange for the safe repatriation of Indian fishermen stranded
in Iran, including approximately 88 fishermen from Kadiyapattanam Village
and other fishermen from Tamil Nadu.
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 16/03/2026 02:58:58 pm )
2.The Writ Petition has been filed in the nature of a Public
Interest Litigation stating that the petitioner’s husband is presently working
in fishing vessels in Iran and is unable to return to India due to the present
crisis. It is further stated that a large number of fishermen from Tamil Nadu,
particularly from Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi Districts, who
had travelled to Iran for the purpose of earning their livelihood through
fishing activities, are presently stranded there due to the prevailing war-like
situation and are facing severe hardship including lack of employment, food,
security and safe means of returning to India. In this regard, the petitioner
submitted a representation dated 09.03.2026 to the authorities concerned.
Since no action has been taken so far, the present Writ Petition has been
filed.
3.Mr.K.Govindarajan, learned Deputy Solicitor General of India
appearing for respondents 1 and 5, on instructions, submitted that advisories
had already been issued on 05.01.2026 and 14.01.2026. Further, on
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 16/03/2026 02:58:58 pm )
23.02.2026, an advisory was issued advising Indians presently in Iran to
leave the country using available transport including commercial flights.
However, the said advisories were not followed.
4.The learned Deputy Solicitor General of India further
submitted that all Indians in Iran can contact the helplines of the Indian
Embassy, the details of which are as follows:
“Mobile Numbers: +989128109115; +989128109109
+989128109102; +989932179359
Email: [email protected]”
5.It is further submitted that the Embassy is extending assistance
to Indians stranded there, wherever possible. However, evacuation may not
be feasible till 14.03.2026 as all airports have presently been closed due to
the prevailing situation. Once the situation normalises and air services
resume, necessary steps will be taken for rescue and evacuation. It is also
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 16/03/2026 02:58:58 pm )
submitted that the Government of India is continuously monitoring the
situation.
6.In such circumstances, the Associations or any Indians
stranded in Iran may contact the helpline numbers and email provided by the
Central Government and the Indian Embassy. The Embassy shall extend
assistance to the stranded persons as far as possible and take appropriate
steps for their rescue once the situation becomes normal.
7.With the above observations, this Writ Petition is closed. There
shall be no order as to costs.
[N.S.K.,J.] [M.J.R.,J.]
12.03.2026
NCC : Yes / No
Index : Yes / No
Internet : Yes
ps
To
1.The Foreign Secretary,
Ministry of External Affairs (Embassy of India),
Government of India, South Block, Raisina Hill,
New Delhi – 110 011.
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 16/03/2026 02:58:58 pm )
2.The Secretary,
Department of Fisheries,
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying,
Government of India,
Krishi Bhavan, Dr.Rajendra Prasad Road,
New Delhi – 110 001.
3.The Principal Secretary,
Department of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare,
Government of Tamil Nadu,
Secretariat, Fort St. George,
Chennai – 600 009.
4.The Chief Secretary,
Government of Tamil Nadu,
Secretariat, Fort St. George,
Chennai – 600 009.
5.The Ambassador,
Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Man in India,
5, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi – 110 000, India.
6.The Commissioner,
Commissionerate of Rehabilitation and Welfare
of Non-Resident Tamils,
Government of Tamil Nadu,
No.56, Anna Salai, Nandanam,
Chennai - 600035.
7.The District Collector,
Kanyakumari District,
Collectorate, Nagercoil,
Kanyakumari District – 629 001.
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 16/03/2026 02:58:58 pm )
N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.
and
M.JOTHIRAMAN, J.
ps
ORDER MADE IN
DATED : 12.03.2026
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 16/03/2026 02:58:58 pm )
