Supreme Court allows deportation of seven Rohingya refugees, dismisses application seeking stay

Published on:

05 Oct 2018, 6:25 am

[dropcap]A[/dropcap] three-judge bench consisting of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and K M Joseph on October 4, 2018 dismissed an application filed through Advocate Prashant Bhushan praying for the restraint order against deportation of any Rohingya refugee lodged in jails or detention centres in Assam or any other part of the country.

In the application, proposed deportation of 7 Rohingya men — who are presently held in Silichar Central jail in State of Assam — was brought to the notice of the Court. Though the case was to be taken up as item no.3 in the CJI's court, on the request of the advocate on behalf of the applicants, the matter was taken up as first item in view of the urgency of the case.

Breaking- Supreme Court dismisses application seeking stay on the deportation of seven Rohingya refugees who were convicted by the Foreigner Tribunal.
— The Leaflet (@TheLeaflet_in) October 4, 2018

MHA in its affidavit submitted that said 7 persons were found illegal immigration by the competent court.
Myanmar has accepted them nationals & citizens of their nation.
Embassy of Myanmar has issued COI, a temporary travel document.
— The Leaflet (@TheLeaflet_in) October 4, 2018

Embassy of Myanmar requested for their arrangements to be made for their repatriation.
Said 7 persons were in housed detention centre since 2012, are now being accepted by country of their origin.
— The Leaflet (@TheLeaflet_in) October 4, 2018

Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on behalf of the Union of India tendered affidavit stating that said the seven persons were found illegal immigration by the competent court, Myanmar had accepted them nationals and citizens of their nation, the Embassy of Myanmar had issued COI, a temporary travel document, the Embassy of Myanmar requested for their arrangements to be made for their repatriation, and lastly that the said seven persons were in housed detention centre since 2012, and are now being accepted by country of their origin.

On the other hand, Advocate Prashant Bhushan contended for the verification by the UN officials since they cannot be compelled to go back under duress. However, no contention of Advocate Bhushan found favour from the bench headed by CJI Gogoi, who dismissed the application after hearing both the parties. Before dismissing the application, CJI Gogoi told Advocate Bhushan "immigrants under question have been convicted. And also Myanmar is ready to accept them as their nationals".

Justice Gogoi to Prashant Bhushan- Refugees under question have been convicted. And also Myanmar is ready to accept them as their nationals.
— The Leaflet (@TheLeaflet_in) October 4, 2018

READ THE APPLICATION FOR DIRECTION ON BEHALF OF THE PETITIONER HERE

[pdfviewer]https://cdn.theleaflet.in/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Rohingya-Application-for-Direction_20180929_0001.pdf[/pdfviewer]