SC concerned over attacks on Indian students in Australia

New Delhi, Jun 29 (PTI) The Supreme Court of India on
Monday expressed concern over unabated attacks on Indian
students in Australia and directed the government to file a
comprehensive affidavit within two weeks about steps taken by
it to ensure their safety.

"The safety and security of Indian students in
Australia is paramount," a bench comprising Justices Dalveer
Bhandari and A K Ganguli said.

"We are sure that the government must be taking all
steps but our anxiety is that, despite the best of efforts on
the part of the government, the incidents of attacks are going
on," the bench observed.

The Court's observation came when Attorney General G E
Vahanvati appraised the Bench about the steps already taken by
the Centre.

He said all attacks on Indian students in Australia
cannot be termed as racial.

Directing the Centre to file its report within two
weeks, the Bench asked the government to place all information
on the website as anxious parents, relatives and friends of
Indian students in Australia are entitled to know the exact
situation in the country. (

The apex court said the contents of the affidavit and
the guidelines should be placed on the website of the Ministry
of External Affairs and Ministry of Overseas Indians besides
on the website of the Indian High Commission in Australia so
that parents and relatives are aware of the exact situation
prevailing there.

Earlier, responding to a notice issued by the court on
a PIL alleging inaction on the part of the government in
dealing with the attacks on Indian students in Australia, the
Centre had said that India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
himself had taken up the matter with his Australian
counterpart Kevin Rudd on May 29.

It had also informed the court that the Australian
government was exploring the possibility of amending its
existing laws to enhance punishment for racism-related
offences.

"The proposed amendments (by Australia) would
strengthen the police response to attacks against Indian
students. It has also been contemplated to amend the existing
legislation to provide for enhanced sentence for
racism-related offences," the Ministry of External Affairs had
said accepting the "seriousness" of the situation.

It had said the Indian High Commissioner in Canberra
and Consulates General in Sydney and Melbourne are in touch
not only with the Australian authorities but also with Indian
students and their community.

The government had informed the court that a task
force has been constituted by Australian authorities to
coordinate with various states in that country to address the
issue of racial attacks.

Advocate D K Garg, who appeared for the petitioner,
said though the government insists that adequate steps were
being taken to protect the Indian students, a number of
anxious parents were still making inquiries about the
well-being of their children.

According to the petition, an estimated 97,000 Indian
students are at present studying in Australia and during
2007-08, there were 1,447 Indian victims of robberies,
assaults, murder, stabbing and other forms of violence.PTI RKS
ANU