SC allows deportation of seven Rohingyas to Myanmar

The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed deportation of seven Rohingya Muslims who were found to be illegal immigrants to Myanmar.

The seven Rohingyas had illegally migrated to India in 2012 and they were convicted under Foreigners Act by a competent court.

On Wednesday, an application was moved seeking a stay on deportation of the seven persons, who are lodged in a detention centre at Silchar in Assam, to Myanmar by the Centre.

The order passed by a bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph said, “We are not inclined to interfere on the decision taken.” 

For first time, India to deport 7 Rohingyas to Myanmar todayhttps://t.co/JSwELGv1ey

— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) October 4, 2018

Earlier, a PIL was filed by two Rohingya immigrants challenging the Centre’s decision to deport over 40,000 refugees who came to India after escaping from Myanmar due to widespread discrimination and violence against the community. An interim plea was filed in the pending PIL to seek measures to stop the deportation.

The deportation has drawn concerns that it could endanger their lives and violate international laws that protect refugees.

Senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan argued that the government’s move was against the UN charter.

Tendayi Achiume, UN Special Rapporteur on racism, said, “The Indian Government has an international legal obligation to fully acknowledge the institutionalised discrimination, persecution, hate and gross human rights violations these people have faced in their country of origin and provide them the necessary protection.”

The Centre has informed that Myanmar has accepted the Rohingyas as their citizens and agreed to take them back. Myanmar has also issued a certificate of identity to the seven Rohingyas along with one-month visa to facilitate their deportation. 

The government last year, citing threat to national security, had asked state governments to identify Rohingyas who might have links with terror groups and deport them.

India has over 40,000 Rohingyas living in various states having fled persecution in Myanmar. UN has described the Myanmar military action as ethnic cleansing, but Myanmar has denied the charge.