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SC reserves verdict on Rohingya deportation

27-03-2021

The apex court today reserved its verdict on a plea seeking immediate release of Rohingya migrants detained in Jammu, besides restraining the Centre from deporting them to Myanmar. As a Bench led by CJI SA Bobde also refused to hear UN Special Rapporteur E Tendayi Achiume in the case. The Centre asserted India can’t become the international capital of illegal migrants. Describing Rohingya as “absolutely illegal migrants”, the Centre submitted in an affidavit that they posed serious threats to the national security. The Bench wanted to know if it could be said that the Centre would deport Rohingya only when Myanmar accepted them. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the government couldn’t send an Afghan national to Myanmar. Filed by Rohingya refugee Mohammad Salimullah, the plea is in the form of an intervention application in a matter already pending in the court. The number of Rohingya in Jammu is estimated to be over 6,500. On behalf of Rohingya, advocate Prashant Bhushan said their children were subjected to killing, maiming and sexual exploitation and the military in Myanmar had failed to respect international law.