The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to appoint a nodal officer to coordinate with families of Indians who died,
were injured, or went missing during the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The court also asked the MEA to arrange DNA tests of family members to help identify the mortal remains of those who died in the conflict. The directions came while hearing a petition filed by family members of those who allegedly died or went missing after being recruited to fight in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. The apex court further directed the MEA to assist families in filing compensation claims with the Russian Embassy in India. The bench also directed the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and state legal services to extend assistance to the families in securing the mortal remains of their relatives and pursuing compensation claims. The Supreme Court also asked the MEA to provide relevant details to affected families in vernacular languages, to ensure the information reaches them without any language barrier. Several persons, duped by travel agents, were made to fight the war.
