The Supreme Court on Wednesday emphasized that there should be no discrimination in children’s education, including for Rohingya refugee children struggling to gain school admission.
The Court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the NGO Rohingya Human Rights Initiative, which seeks directions to ensure Rohingya children receive school admissions and government benefits without requiring Aadhaar cards or citizenship status verification.
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and NK Singh made it clear that education should be accessible to all, stating, “In terms of education, there will be no discrimination.”
Rohingya Refugees Facing Barriers to Education
Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves, representing the petitioner, highlighted the urgent need for intervention, stating that Rohingya children are in a “desperate situation” due to their inability to secure school admissions.
In response, the Court sought details confirming where these families currently reside, indicating that such information would help determine what relief could be extended. The Court also stressed the need to protect minors’ privacy, directing, “Don’t tell us about students. Tell us about parents… Let us not expose any child.”
Gonsalves informed the Court that Rohingya refugees hold identity cards issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which recognize their status. The Court noted that once residence details are provided, it would consider steps to facilitate access to education for these children.
Previous Court Rulings and Pending Appeals
Earlier, the Delhi High Court had declined to entertain a similar petition that urged the Delhi government to grant school admissions to Rohingya refugee children. The High Court suggested that the issue should be taken up with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs instead, stating, “Court should not be a medium in this.”
Meanwhile, an appeal in the matter (Social Jurist, A Civil Rights Group vs. Municipal Corporation of Delhi & Anr) is pending before the Supreme Court. When the appeal was last heard on January 27, the Court granted the petitioner time to submit details of Rohingya families residing in regular residential areas instead of makeshift camps. This plea is scheduled for a hearing on February 17.
The Supreme Court has now set the next hearing for February 28, where it will examine the details submitted and consider possible relief measures.
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