Delhi High Court Refuses To Entertain Husband's Plea Seeking ₹100 Crore Compensation Over Wife's Death During Nepal Unrest

The Delhi High Court on Thursday refused to entertain a petition filed by a husband seeking Rs. 100 crore compensation, a judicial enquiry and fixation of accountability over the death of his wife, an Indian citizen, during violent civil unrest in Kathmandu, Nepal, in September 2025.Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav was informed by the husband's counsel that he was restricting the relief to seeking a declaration on the violation of his fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution of India and that the Union Government must formulate a protocol for Indians travelling to sensitive nations.The Court said that the plea was incapable of being adjudicated in writ jurisdiction, while asking the husband to avail other remedies available in law. The judge also remarked that filing of a public interest litigation was a better remedy for the husband. Accordingly, the husband's counsel withdrew the petition with liberty to take appropriate recourse in law.Rambir Singh Gola had filed the petition against the Union of India, the Indian Embassy in Nepal, and Hyatt India Consulting Private Limited, alleging gross negligence, constitutional failure and abandonment of duty which allegedly resulted in the death of his wife, Late Rajesh Gola, while the couple was staying at the hotel. For context, the petition sought compensation up to Rs. 100 crore jointly from the State authorities and the hotel. According to the plea, the couple had travelled to Nepal on September 07, 2025 for a religious pilgrimage to the Pashupatinath Temple. They were staying at the Hyatt Regency Kathmandu when large-scale political protests and violent unrest broke out in the city.The petition alleged that despite repeated queries about safety, the hotel authorities assured them that the premises were secure and even advised them to shift to a higher floor on the assurance that it would be safer. It said that on the night of September 09, 2025, a violent mob attacked the hotel and set parts of it on fire, but no fire alarms were activated and no evacuation protocol was followed. The plea further alleged that hotel staff abandoned the premises and, instead of facilitating rescue, advised trapped guests to jump from upper floors. As per the petition, in a desperate attempt to escape, the petitioner and his wife reportedly tried to climb down using makeshift ropes, during which his wife fell from the fourth floor and sustained fatal injuries. Gola had also accused the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu and the Union Ministry of External Affairs of failing to respond to repeated distress calls made by Indian nationals during the crisis. The plea claimed that no emergency assistance, evacuation or consular intervention was provided, amounting to a violation of the fundamental right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. “Furthermore, the negligence of Respondents No. 3 and 4 in providing false assurances of safety, failing to implement emergency protocols, and abandoning guests during a crisis directly contributed to the deprivation of Smt. Rajesh Gola's right to life. Their actions created a hazardous environment that made the fatal outcome not merely possible but probable,” the plea stated. Apart from seeking compensation of 100 crore and setting up of judicial enquiry, Gola also urged the Court to direct systemic reforms in India's consular crisis-response mechanisms for Indian citizens travelling abroad.Title: RAMBIR SINGH.GOLA v. UNION OF INDIA & ORSCitation: 2026 LiveLaw (Del) 243

Delhi High Court Refuses To Entertain Husband's Plea Seeking ₹100 Crore Compensation Over Wife's Death During Nepal Unrest

Nupur Thapliyal

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