How can we hear this? Delhi HC on plea by man seeking ₹100 crore compensation for wife's death during Nepal protests

The Delhi High Court on Monday expressed doubts over its jurisdiction to entertain a petition filed by a man seeking ₹100 crore compensation for the death of his wife during the violent Gen Z protests in Nepal last year.

Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav heard the matter today and questioned how the reliefs sought in the petition can be granted by the Court since the incident in question happened in Nepal.

“How can we decide all this? In Nepal, something happens, the hotel asks you to do something. How can we decide?” the Court remarked. 

The plea was filed by one Rambir Singh Gola seeking compensation and a public apology from the Indian government and the Hyatt hotel.

His wife, Rajesh Gola died while trapped inside the Hyatt Regency hotel in Kathmandu as protests spread across Nepal.

The couple travelled to the country on September 7, 2025, for a pilgrimage to the Pashupatinath Temple. As violence escalated in Kathmandu, the hotel allegedly assured guests of safety and discouraged checkout, persuading them to shift to a higher floor.

On September 9, a mob allegedly set the hotel on fire amid a total emergency response failure. Rambir Gola alleges that despite distress calls to Indian authorities, no help arrived and his wife died after falling while attempting to escape.

Gola in his plea said that it was a case of "the total inaction of the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu and the Ministry of External Affairs during the violent mob attack and fire, despite repeated distress calls".

According to the plea, it amounted to a violation of the State's constitutional duty to protect its citizens.

"The conduct of Hyatt Regency Kathmandu--providing false safety assurances, lacking emergency protocols, and abandoning guests constitutes gross deficiency in service and an unfair trade practice under Sections 2(11) and 2(47) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019," the plea added.

The counsel appearing for the petitioner said that the plea raises issues of constitutional importance, including the Article 21 (right to life) protection available to Indians travelling abroad.

“There are parts that are completely infringing on Article 21 rights. The Vienna Convention says it is for the embassy to ensure protection [of citizens],” the counsel said. 

The Court also noted that the petitioner had made Hyatt Regency a party to the writ petition. 

“You have to modify your prayer. In the present form, I cannot do that,” the Court remarked. 

The petitioner's lawyer then said that she would confine the plea to certain select prayers, and as far as compensation is concerned, a civil suit may be filed. 

The Court then adjourned the case to February 26. 

It is Gola's case that "the total inaction of the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu and the Ministry of External Affairs during the violent mob attack and fire, despite repeated distress calls", amounts to a violation of the State's constitutional duty to protect its citizens.

"The conduct of Hyatt Regency Kathmandu--providing false safety assurances, lacking emergency protocols, and abandoning guests constitutes gross deficiency in service and an unfair trade practice under Sections 2(11) and 2(47) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019," the plea added.

Apart from compensation, Gola has sought directions to constitute a high-level judicial commission to investigate the sequence of events at Hyatt Regency Kathmandu and the alleged failure of the Indian government to help people stuck in the hotel.

It also seeks directions to mandate registration and tracking of Indian tourists in sensitive countries, disciplinary action against erring officials, and preservation of all evidence related to the incident.

The petition has been filed through advocate Abhishek Kumar Choudhary.