Deportation of Rohingyas
Rohingyas are Sunni Muslims that make up 1/3rd of Rakhine’s population, one of the border states of Myanmar. Myanmar officially recognises 135 races and is an ethnically diverse nation. The Myanmar government claims that Rohingyas are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and rejects them from the list of officially recognised natives. Internal ethnic conflict has been constant since the independence of Myanmar and illegal migration of Rohingyas to neighbouring nations (mostly Bangladesh and India) has also remained a resultant constant. The massive exodus triggered more recently starting 2012 conflicts has resulted a fresh immigration situation.
Since Myanmar itself has been struggling with law and order issues due to this particular ethnic group and has been reluctant towards its return and rehabilitation, neighbouring nations have been eyeing India’s lead to resolve this issue. Indian Government has been in favour of a “safe, secure and sustainable” return of Rohingyas to Myanmar and has therefore directed State Governments to initiate deportation procedures for Rohingyas.
In this background, a Writ Petition W.P.(C) 793/2017 (Mohammad Salimullah and Anr Versus Union of India and Ors.) was filed before the Hon’ble Supreme Court in September 2017 seeking to stay the Union Government’s directions to State Governments to deport Rohingyas from India. To oppose this interference with the Government’s decision to deport Rohingyas, the Indic Collective Trust filed an Intervention Petition before the Supreme Court seeking deportation of Rohingyas.
