The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed the deportation of seven Rohingya muslims, who had illegally immigrated to Assam, to their country of origin, Myanmar.
It said the seven Rohingya were found by the competent court as illegal immigrants and Myanmar had accepted them as its citizens.
“We are not inclined to interfere on the decision taken,” the apex court said.
The Centre submitted before the court that the seven Rohingya were convicted under the Foreigners Act.
It also said that Myanmar has issued certificate of identity to the seven Rohingya along with one month visa to facilitate deportation.
Earlier on Wednesday, a plea was moved in the Supreme Court seeking to restrain the Centre from deporting to Myanmar the seven Rohingya lodged in a detention centre at Silchar in Assam.
The interim plea, seeking urgent measures to stop the proposed deportation, was filed in a pending PIL.
The PIL was filed earlier by two Rohingya immigrants — Mohammad Salimullah and Mohammad Shaqir — challenging the Centre’s decision to deport over 40,000 refugees who came to India after escaping from Myanmar due to widespread discrimination and violence against the community.
The fresh plea said that the decision to deport was in “grave violation” of India’s international obligation and moreover, the situation in Myanmar was extremely dangerous for the Rohingya to return and they are likely to be subjected to torture and even killed.
(With PTI inputs)