SC refuses to interfere in 7 Rohingyas' deportation to Myanmar
New Delhi [India], Oct 4 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to interfere in the deportation of the seven Rohingyas, lodged in the Silchar Detention Centre in Assam, to Myanmar. These seven persons were handed over to Myanmar on Thursday shortly after the order.
ANI
Oct 04, 2018 11:12 IST
New Delhi [India], Oct 4 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to interfere in the deportation of the seven Rohingyas, lodged in the Silchar Detention Centre in Assam, to Myanmar. These seven persons were handed over to Myanmar on Thursday shortly after the order.
A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice KM Joseph dismissed the plea against deportation of seven refugees while accepting the Centre's contention that they were illegal immigrants in India and Myanmar has accepted the Rohingyas as their citizens and has agreed to take them back.
Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Central government, contended that these seven persons had entered India in 2012 and subsequently, they were caught, tried, and convicted under the provisions of the Foreigners Act. Mehta told the bench that Myanmar was also ready to issue a Certificate of Identity to these seven persons.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had corresponded with the Myanmar Embassy to determine whether these persons belonged to Myanmar and the country had asked India to make arrangements for these persons to be brought to the border, Mehta apprised the court.
Advocate Prashant Bhushan, who has opposed to deporting these seven refugees to Myanmar, told the court that Rohingyas are recognised by the United Nations agencies as a stateless people and are known to have fled from Myanmar due to fear from persecution.
"Government of India filed a short affidavit saying these poeple want to go back, we said atlease United Nations High Commisson for human rights should be permitted to interview them to find out whether they really want to go back to Myanmar or not," Bhushan told reporters after the apex court's verdict.
Bhushan had filed an application in an ongoing case pertaining to deportation of nearly 40,000 Rohingyas. The main case was filed by two Rohingya immigrants - Mohammad Salimullah and Mohammad Shaqir. Bhushan, in his application, has sought urgent hearing in view of the deportation of seven Rohingyas from Assam. The plea has sought a restraint on the Centre's decision to deport them to Myanmar.
The main case is still pending before the Apex Court, in which the petitioners have claimed that they took refuge in India after escaping from Myanmar due to widespread discrimination, violence, and bloodshed against the community in that country. (ANI)
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