Supreme Court Directs MEA to Appoint Nodal Officer, Arrange DNA Tests for Indians Who Died in Russia-Ukraine Conflict
A three-judge bench led by the Chief Justice issued directions on repatriation of mortal remains, DNA identification, compensation claims, and free legal aid for bereaved families.
The Supreme Court on 31 July 2026 issued a set of concrete directions to the Ministry of External Affairs concerning Indian nationals from Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh who travelled to Russia between 2024 and 2025, were allegedly duped by travel agents, had their passports confiscated, and were enrolled in the Russian Armed Forces before being deployed to the Russia-Ukraine line of fire. Many of those young Indians have since died. Their mortal remains have not been brought back, and no compensation has reached the bereaved families. The bench — comprising the Chief Justice, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana — heard the matter on several prior occasions and, upon the Union of India filing an additional status report, found it appropriate to issue structured directions rather than wait further.
How the Petition Reached the Court
The petitioners are family members and close relatives of the affected Indian nationals. They approached the Supreme Court by way of Writ Petition (Civil) No. 451/2026, alleging that their relatives were lured abroad with promises of employment in construction, hospitality, and service sectors. Once in Russia, their travel documents were taken away and they were pressed into military service. The matter has been heard on multiple occasions. The Union of India, represented by Additional Solicitor General Ms. Aishwarya Bhati, filed an additional status report before the 31 July 2026 hearing.
For the petitioners, Mr. Ritvik Bhanot appeared as lead counsel, assisted by Mr. Adyayan Gupta, Mr. Aayush Shankar, and AOR Mr. Sandeep Kumar Sen.
The Core Problem Before the Court
Three distinct grievances were placed before the bench. First, the mortal remains of those who died in the hostilities have not been returned to India after due verification of identity. Second, no compensation amount has been paid to the families. Third, the families have been left without guidance on how to file claims with Russian authorities or navigate the administrative formalities required for the return of bodies.
The Court took note that delay in the return of mortal remains was compounding the families' distress, and that the pendency of compensation claims was being treated, in effect, as a reason to hold up the return of bodies. The bench addressed this directly in its directions.
Directions Issued on 31 July 2026
The Court issued the following directions to the Ministry of External Affairs:
Nodal Officer. The Ministry of External Affairs shall designate a Nodal Officer and furnish that officer's contact details to family members of deceased or injured Indian nationals who had gone to Russia. This creates a single, accountable point of contact that the families can reach without navigating the ministry's general correspondence channels.
DNA identification and return of bodies. In cases of fatality, the Ministry shall arrange DNA tests of mortal remains alongside samples from family members to establish identification. Once completed, the body, along with a certificate recording the DNA test result, shall be handed over to the concerned family. The Court made clear that the pendency of compensation claims shall not be a ground to delay cremation, the performance of last rites, or the return of mortal remains. Each of these must be separately and expeditiously addressed.
Compensation claim documents. A complete, consolidated set of documents setting out the procedure for filing compensation claims with Russian authorities shall be supplied to affected families. These documents must be translated into the relevant regional languages. Families may then submit their claims to the Russian authorities through the Ministry of External Affairs. However, as the Court specifically stated, this process must not hold back the return of bodies.
Free legal aid through DLSAs. The District Legal Services Authorities of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh, through their Member Secretaries, are directed to provide free legal aid to the aggrieved families. This covers submission of compensation claims, completion of DNA testing formalities, and any other legal or administrative steps required of them.
Additional Directions to MEA
Beyond the four primary directions, the Court also directed the Ministry of External Affairs to supply translated versions of any documents received from Russian authorities that bear on the return of mortal remains or compensation claims, if such translations have not already been provided to the families.
The Court further directed the Ministry to continue its efforts, through diplomatic channels, to bring back the remaining deceased bodies and mortal remains, and to trace persons who are still missing.
Outcome
The matter has been listed for further consideration on 31 August 2026. The Court's directions effectively require the Ministry of External Affairs to operationalise a system — a named nodal contact, DNA verification machinery, translated claim documents, and coordinated legal aid — before that date.