In one of the most alarming constitutional petitions to reach the Supreme Court in recent times, a bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant has issued notice to the Union Government demanding a response on a habeas corpus petition filed by the families of 26 Indian nationals who were allegedly lured to Russia under false promises of employment, had their passports confiscated upon arrival, and were subsequently coerced into fighting in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, raising urgent questions about the State's constitutional duty to protect its citizens even beyond India's borders.
The controversy traces back to a trail of deception allegedly orchestrated by illegal recruitment networks operating within India, which reportedly targeted economically vulnerable individuals with offers of legitimate work abroad. The 26 nationals travelled to Russia on tourist, student, or other lawful visas, only to find their documents seized, their movement restricted, and themselves effectively conscripted into military structures linked to the Russian armed forces.
Families, who last heard from their relatives between September and October 2025, when the individuals reported being stationed near active conflict zones including Kupyansk, Selydove, Makiivka, and Chelyabinsk, have since lost all contact. Despite repeated representations to the Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian Embassy in Moscow, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and various State governments, the petitioning families allege they received no concrete assistance or verified information whatsoever.
Before the bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice Vipul Pancholi, counsel for the petitioners pulled no punches, characterising the government's response as marked by "continuous and uninterrupted inaction" and placing before the court the chilling words reportedly conveyed by the trapped individuals themselves, "We are stuck in Russia. We are fighting a war against Ukraine for a foreign state unwillingly."
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, sought time to obtain instructions, acknowledging the court had previously flagged the issue. The bench accepted the request but directed that the notice be made returnable within one week, signalling that the court was not prepared to allow the matter to drift, while the petition itself seeks diplomatic intervention, consular access under the Vienna Convention, welfare verification, family communication channels, and a court-monitored nodal officer to track repatriation efforts.
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