Rohingya refugees approach SC against deportation

Two Rohingya Muslims – refugees in India from persecution in neighbouring Myanmar – have petitioned the Supreme Court against the Centre's order to expel them.

Renowned advocate Prashant Bhushan mentioned the matter before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra who then listed the issue for September 4.

In their petition, the refugees have relied on an August 14 news report which said that the Centre has directed states to identify and deport illegal immigrants including the Rohingya, who have been fleeing Buddhist-majority Myanmar in the thousands.

Mohammed Salimullah and Mohammed Shaqir, who are registered refugees under the United Nations High Commission of Refugees (UNHCR), submitted that they feared for their lives if they were deported. They also contended that India would be flouting its international commitments if they were deported.

They also relied on UN reports which have recognised the persecution of the community by the government of Myanmar.

Soon after the August report, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) took suo motu cognisance of the issue and issued a notice to the Home Ministry, the petitioners said.

The UN has officially identified 14,000 Rohingya Muslims as living in India, though Home Ministry estimates put the number much higher at about 40,000.