Orissa HC: Foreign Nationals Also Have Right to Life Under Article 2
What Happened
The Orissa High Court directed authorities to repatriate 23 crew members of the abandoned oil tanker MT Unity, holding that foreign nationals in Indian waters are entitled to the right to live with dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution. The court found that the shipowner had failed to pay wages, provide essentials or arrange the crew's return home.
Key Takeaways
The ruling reinforces that Article 21 protects all "persons," not just Indian citizens, and can be invoked by foreign nationals whose life and dignity are at risk while in India.