The Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing on May 8 for a set of petitions and public interest litigations (PILs) related to the deportation and living conditions of Rohingya refugees in India.
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh passed the order while hearing arguments from various parties. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioners in one of the cases, argued that Rohingya refugees have been victims of ethnic cleansing and genocide in Myanmar. Despite this, they are facing deportation to a country that does not recognize them as citizens.
Petitioners Seek Fresh Inquiry into Rohingya Living Conditions
During the hearing, Bhushan informed the court about new developments in the case and sought permission to file an additional affidavit. He also referred to a previous Supreme Court order from May 11, 2018, which had directed a committee to assess the living conditions of Rohingya refugees. Based on that, he urged the court to appoint a legal services authority or another competent body to reassess their current conditions, as they have reportedly worsened.
However, the bench did not pass any orders regarding this request at the moment.
SC to Merge Rohingya Cases
A counsel representing the respondents informed the court that there are around 18-19 cases concerning Rohingya refugees, with 11-12 of them listed before the bench on the same day. Justice Kant suggested that all related cases be combined for a comprehensive hearing.
The court has granted liberty to all petitioners to submit additional affidavits and documents before the May 8 hearing to ensure a proper and effective adjudication of the matter.
Court Orders on Rohingya Refugees
Recently, the Supreme Court disposed of a petition seeking school admissions for Rohingya refugee children in Delhi. The court advised the children to first approach government schools directly. If they are denied admission despite being eligible, they can then seek legal recourse through the Delhi High Court.
In another PIL related to government benefits and school admissions for Rohingya refugees, the court emphasized that education should be available to all children without discrimination. However, it stated that the residential status of Rohingya families needed to be verified before granting such benefits. This case was later disposed of, with the court reaffirming that the affected children should first attempt to gain admission in schools before seeking legal intervention.
The hearing on May 8 will be crucial in determining the legal course for Rohingya refugees in India, particularly concerning their deportation and access to basic rights.
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