SC to hear plea challenging decision to deport Rohingyas today

The Supreme Court on Monday will hear plea filed by the two Rohingya immigrants, Mohammad Salimullah and Mohammad Shaqir.

The Rohingya immigrants in their plea have sought apex court's intervention to direct the Central Government not to deport them and other Rohingyas.

The Central Government is also likely to file an affidavit tomorrow in the case.

The plea filed by the two Rohingya immigrants, Mohammad Salimullah and Mohammad Shaqir, who are registered refugees under the United Nations High Commission of Refugees (UNHCR), earlier stated that "this act (deportation) would be in contradiction with the Principle of Non-Refoulement, which has been widely recognized as a principle of Customary International Law".

However, on September 8, a plea was filed in the top court seeking identification and deportation of Rohingya Muslim refugees.

The plea was filed by Rashtriya Swabhiman Andolan, (RSA) leader, K.N. Govindacharya.

Govindacharya, in his plea, said the Rohingya Muslims are a burden on a country's resources and also a serious threat to India's national security.

The Principle of Non-Refoulement prohibits states from sending back refugees to a country where their life may be in danger.

Earlier, India announced that it plans to deport an estimated 40,000 Rohingya Muslim refugees living illegally in India. The government said that even those registered with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees would be deported.

The Rohingyas fled to India after violence in the Western Rakhine State of Myanmar.