The Supreme Court has issued an interim order to the government to bring all the Nepali citizens stranded at the Indian border, who are willing to come home, and put them under quarantine.

A division bench of Justices Dip Kumar Karki and Manoj Kumar Sharma on Tuesday issued the interim order, saying that the government cannot shirk from its duty of ensuring its citizens rights to food and life wherever they are.

Read our editorial: Trapped at the border

The bench, however, has told the government to make proper arrangements of food, shelter and treatment of those citizens who are not in a position to return to Nepal, by coordinating with the Indian government.

Read: Nepalis are swimming across the Mahakali to get home

On Nepalis stranded in different other countries, the court has told the government to bring those willing to come to Nepal by employing diplomatic channels. “If that is not possible for now, then the government should make necessary provisions to ensure that they get food, shelter and treatment wherever they are,” said the court.

Tuesday’s order came in response to two separate writ petitions filed by advocates Mina Khadka and Manish Kumar Shrestha.

Thousands of Nepalis are stranded on the Indian side of the border due to ongoing lockdowns both in India and Nepal.