SC hears PIL over deaths of 3 Indian sailors in Black Sea amid Russia-Ukraine war

The Supreme Court heard a PIL seeking action over the alleged deaths of three Indian sailors in Black Sea attacks. The hearing centred on limits of India's response, compensation hurdles and questions over sending crew into conflict waters.The Supreme Court has asked the MEA to use diplomatic channels to locate Indian sailor missing after July 25 strike in the Black Sea. (File Photo: Reuters)The Supreme Court on Monday heard a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking action over the alleged deaths of three Indian sailors during attacks in the Black Sea amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, with the petitioner's counsel telling the court that little was being done by the countries involved, including India.During the hearing, the counsel alleged that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had not taken adequate steps to ascertain the fate of the sailors. The Centre, however, told the court that Indian embassies were following up on the matter with the embassies of Ukraine, Romania and other countries.The counsel told the bench that the Romanian ambassador had stated that no search-and-rescue operation had been carried out after July 26.Chief Justice of India observed that the matter involved an "unfortunate situation" in which a seaman had gone missing amid a hostile situation in the sovereign territory of a foreign nation. "Do you want us to send Delhi Police to Ukraine?" the CJI asked during the hearing. The Centre's counsel, J Bagchi, said the government faced limitations in responding to an incident involving hostile action in the sovereign territory of another country. He pointed out that none of the countries involved had formally declared war, and argued that the Geneva Conventions could not be invoked in the manner suggested.Bagchi said that, at most, the MEA could assist the families in seeking compensation from the shipping companies concerned. "Are you going to flog the incapacity of the agency involved or will you render assistance for compensation?" the court asked. Bagchi responded that compensation could not be granted without a death certificate.The petitioner's counsel, however, raised questions about the circumstances under which the sailors had been sent into areas affected by armed conflict."There have been so many casualties. We don't even know whether they were forced to go there," the counsel said, stressing that no one would ordinarily want to work in conflict-hit areas such as the Strait of Hormuz, Red Sea or Black Sea.The counsel urged the court to examine the employment contracts of the sailors and determine whether they had been compelled to undertake assignments in dangerous waters.Seeking time to place additional documents before the court, the counsel said, "Please give me time to file some documents." The Supreme Court subsequently adjourned the matter.US PEACE PUSH GAINS MOMENTUMMeanwhile, US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Kyiv on Sunday for their first official visit to Ukraine, as Washington renewed efforts to broker an end to the Russia-Ukraine war.Their visit came a day after the two travelled to Moscow and held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin for more than three hours.Kyiv has so far rejected Moscow's demand that Ukraine withdraw from parts of the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions that remain under Ukrainian control. US efforts to broker peace had also lost momentum amid Washington's focus on the Iran war over the past six months.- EndsPublished By: Priyanka KumariPublished On: Sep 7, 2026 16:57 IST