Indian supreme court asks government to take action on Australian student attacks
July 1 2009
Even as yet another Indian was attacked in Melbourne yesterday, this time a Sikh student, the supreme court of India expressed concern over the continuing attacks on Indian students in Australia that have now gone up to 22 in the past couple of months.
The country's apex court asked the central government in New Delhi to take effective measures to avoid any deterioration in the situation which could result in students returning midway from their studies.
“We are sure the government must be taking all steps but … [the] attacks are going on,” a vacation bench comprising justices Dalveer Bhandari and A. K. Ganguly said.
The court said the safety and security of Indian students in Australia was paramount and further asked the central administration to file a comprehensive affidavit within two weeks and explain the steps undertaken to ensure the safety and security of Indian students.
The justices pointed out that Indian students were attacked in Canada too and the affidavit should also mention steps taken in that regard.
The court’s remarks came when attorney-general G. E. Vahanvati apprised the court's vacation bench about the steps already taken by the central government.
The justices said parents and relatives of students should be made aware of the prevailing situation.
“We don’t have to make the parents panicky. They should not withdraw their children midway.”
Underlining the rights of parents to know about the steps taken by the government, it ordered that all relevant information be put up on the websites of the ministries of external affairs and overseas Indian affairs as well as the Indian high commissioner to Australia. The apex court was surprised that such attacks were being reported from a civilised country like Australia.
Vahanvati’s said all attacks shouldn’t be generalised as racial in nature. He was supported by Pradeep Ahalwat, an Indian who studied in Australian and acquired citizen.
Ahlawat said the situation has been blown out of proportion, which may jeopardise the relations between the two countries and hamper employment opportunities for Indians in Australia, he said. The court allowed him to put his suggestions.
The vacation bench was hearing a public interest litigation filed by advocate Ranveer Yadav. It refused a plea to direct the government to send a team to probe racial attacks incidents. It said this was not required as the Indian high commission in every country had officials from various departments, including from the Indian Police Service.
Earlier, the Centre had said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had taken up the matter with his Australian counterpart Kevin Rudd on May 29. Australia was mulling over amending laws to enhance punishment for racism- related offences, it added.
According to the petition, around 97,000 Indians were studying in Australia and 1,447 of them were victims of robberies, assaults, murder, stabbing and other forms of violence in 2007- 08.
Meanwhile a group of Australian parliamentarians visiting New Delhi on Monday tried to assure that their government will ensure the safety of Indian students studying in the country.
The country's apex court asked the central government in New Delhi to take effective measures to avoid any deterioration in the situation which could result in students returning midway from their studies.
“We are sure the government must be taking all steps but … [the] attacks are going on,” a vacation bench comprising justices Dalveer Bhandari and A. K. Ganguly said.
The court said the safety and security of Indian students in Australia was paramount and further asked the central administration to file a comprehensive affidavit within two weeks and explain the steps undertaken to ensure the safety and security of Indian students.
The justices pointed out that Indian students were attacked in Canada too and the affidavit should also mention steps taken in that regard.
The court’s remarks came when attorney-general G. E. Vahanvati apprised the court's vacation bench about the steps already taken by the central government.
The justices said parents and relatives of students should be made aware of the prevailing situation.
“We don’t have to make the parents panicky. They should not withdraw their children midway.”
Underlining the rights of parents to know about the steps taken by the government, it ordered that all relevant information be put up on the websites of the ministries of external affairs and overseas Indian affairs as well as the Indian high commissioner to Australia. The apex court was surprised that such attacks were being reported from a civilised country like Australia.
Vahanvati’s said all attacks shouldn’t be generalised as racial in nature. He was supported by Pradeep Ahalwat, an Indian who studied in Australian and acquired citizen.
Ahlawat said the situation has been blown out of proportion, which may jeopardise the relations between the two countries and hamper employment opportunities for Indians in Australia, he said. The court allowed him to put his suggestions.
The vacation bench was hearing a public interest litigation filed by advocate Ranveer Yadav. It refused a plea to direct the government to send a team to probe racial attacks incidents. It said this was not required as the Indian high commission in every country had officials from various departments, including from the Indian Police Service.
Earlier, the Centre had said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had taken up the matter with his Australian counterpart Kevin Rudd on May 29. Australia was mulling over amending laws to enhance punishment for racism- related offences, it added.
According to the petition, around 97,000 Indians were studying in Australia and 1,447 of them were victims of robberies, assaults, murder, stabbing and other forms of violence in 2007- 08.
Meanwhile a group of Australian parliamentarians visiting New Delhi on Monday tried to assure that their government will ensure the safety of Indian students studying in the country.
Even as yet another Indian was attacked in Melbourne yesterday, this time a Sikh student, the supreme court of India expressed concern over the continuing attacks on Indian students in Australia that have now gone up to 22 in the past couple of months.The country's apex court asked the central...
Even as yet another Indian was attacked in Melbourne yesterday, this time a Sikh student, the supreme court of India expressed concern over the continuing attacks on Indian students in Australia that have now gone up to 22 in the past couple of months.
The country's apex court asked the central government in New Delhi to take effective measures to avoid any deterioration in the situation which could result in students returning midway from their studies.
“We are sure the government must be taking all steps but … [the] attacks are going on,” a vacation bench comprising justices Dalveer Bhandari and A. K. Ganguly said.
The court said the safety and security of Indian students in Australia was paramount and further asked the central administration to file a comprehensive affidavit within two weeks and explain the steps undertaken to ensure the safety and security of Indian students.
The justices pointed out that Indian students were attacked in Canada too and the affidavit should also mention steps taken in that regard.
The court’s remarks came when attorney-general G. E. Vahanvati apprised the court's vacation bench about the steps already taken by the central government.
The justices said parents and relatives of students should be made aware of the prevailing situation.
“We don’t have to make the parents panicky. They should not withdraw their children midway.”
Underlining the rights of parents to know about the steps taken by the government, it ordered that all relevant information be put up on the websites of the ministries of external affairs and overseas Indian affairs as well as the Indian high commissioner to Australia. The apex court was surprised that such attacks were being reported from a civilised country like Australia.
Vahanvati’s said all attacks shouldn’t be generalised as racial in nature. He was supported by Pradeep Ahalwat, an Indian who studied in Australian and acquired citizen.
Ahlawat said the situation has been blown out of proportion, which may jeopardise the relations between the two countries and hamper employment opportunities for Indians in Australia, he said. The court allowed him to put his suggestions.
The vacation bench was hearing a public interest litigation filed by advocate Ranveer Yadav. It refused a plea to direct the government to send a team to probe racial attacks incidents. It said this was not required as the Indian high commission in every country had officials from various departments, including from the Indian Police Service.
Earlier, the Centre had said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had taken up the matter with his Australian counterpart Kevin Rudd on May 29. Australia was mulling over amending laws to enhance punishment for racism- related offences, it added.
According to the petition, around 97,000 Indians were studying in Australia and 1,447 of them were victims of robberies, assaults, murder, stabbing and other forms of violence in 2007- 08.
Meanwhile a group of Australian parliamentarians visiting New Delhi on Monday tried to assure that their government will ensure the safety of Indian students studying in the country.
The country's apex court asked the central government in New Delhi to take effective measures to avoid any deterioration in the situation which could result in students returning midway from their studies.
“We are sure the government must be taking all steps but … [the] attacks are going on,” a vacation bench comprising justices Dalveer Bhandari and A. K. Ganguly said.
The court said the safety and security of Indian students in Australia was paramount and further asked the central administration to file a comprehensive affidavit within two weeks and explain the steps undertaken to ensure the safety and security of Indian students.
The justices pointed out that Indian students were attacked in Canada too and the affidavit should also mention steps taken in that regard.
The court’s remarks came when attorney-general G. E. Vahanvati apprised the court's vacation bench about the steps already taken by the central government.
The justices said parents and relatives of students should be made aware of the prevailing situation.
“We don’t have to make the parents panicky. They should not withdraw their children midway.”
Underlining the rights of parents to know about the steps taken by the government, it ordered that all relevant information be put up on the websites of the ministries of external affairs and overseas Indian affairs as well as the Indian high commissioner to Australia. The apex court was surprised that such attacks were being reported from a civilised country like Australia.
Vahanvati’s said all attacks shouldn’t be generalised as racial in nature. He was supported by Pradeep Ahalwat, an Indian who studied in Australian and acquired citizen.
Ahlawat said the situation has been blown out of proportion, which may jeopardise the relations between the two countries and hamper employment opportunities for Indians in Australia, he said. The court allowed him to put his suggestions.
The vacation bench was hearing a public interest litigation filed by advocate Ranveer Yadav. It refused a plea to direct the government to send a team to probe racial attacks incidents. It said this was not required as the Indian high commission in every country had officials from various departments, including from the Indian Police Service.
Earlier, the Centre had said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had taken up the matter with his Australian counterpart Kevin Rudd on May 29. Australia was mulling over amending laws to enhance punishment for racism- related offences, it added.
According to the petition, around 97,000 Indians were studying in Australia and 1,447 of them were victims of robberies, assaults, murder, stabbing and other forms of violence in 2007- 08.
Meanwhile a group of Australian parliamentarians visiting New Delhi on Monday tried to assure that their government will ensure the safety of Indian students studying in the country.
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