SC notice to Centre on plea seeking release of Rohingya refugees detained in jails, juvenile homes
Oct 10, 2023
New Delhi [India], October 10 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought a response from the Centre on a plea seeking the release of Rohingya refugees who have been allegedly detained illegally and arbitrarily in jails/detention centres or juvenile homes across the country.
A bench of Justices BR Gavai and PK Mishra issued a notice to the Centre and listed the matter after four weeks.
The plea sought direction to restrain the governments from arbitrarily detaining any Rohingya for being accused of being an illegal immigrant or under the Foreigner's Act.
The plea filed by Priyali Sur, an independent multimedia journalist, said that the continued detention of the Rohingya refugees is illegal and unconstitutional being violative of fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 21 and 14 of the Constitution of India, guaranteed to all persons residing in India, citizens or otherwise.
The petition stated that these refugees from Myanmar have fled their country because of a situation that has been recognised by the United Nations and the International Court of Justice as genocide and crimes against humanity.
Facing genocide in Myanmar and being stateless people, the Rohingya refugees have fled in waves since the violence began, to neighbouring countries, including India, it added.
Further, the Rohingya in India face "growing anti-Muslim and anti-refugee xenophobia" and live in constant fear of detention and even deportation back to the genocidal regime from which they fled, the petition stated.
