Rohingya refugees: Supreme Court asks Centre, petitioners to refrain from emotional arguments

Source – intoday.in

The Supreme Court today said it would hear the various pleas regarding Rohingya Muslimsonly on the “points of law” and asked the parties – Centre and petitioners – to desist from advancing “emotional arguments” as the matter concerned “humanitarian cause and humanity”, which required to be heard with “mutual respect”.

“The concern for humanitarian cause and humanity should come with mutual respect,” a bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said as it asked the Centre and two Rohingya petitioners to compile all documents and international conventions for its assistance.

The Supreme Court said it will hear on October 13 the petition filed by Rohingya Muslims challenging the government’s stand to deport them back to Myanmar. The bench, also comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud, said it will hear in details various aspects arising out of the matter, including the government’s stand that the petition was not justiciable in the court of law.

In its affidavit filed before the Supreme Court last month, the Centre has claimed that Rohingya refugees pose a “serious national security threat” and that their deportation was in the “larger interest” of the country. It also asked the court to “decline its interference” in the matter.

Senior advocate Fali S Nariman, appearing for the petitioner Rohingya refugees, opposed the government stand and said the petition under Article 32 was maintainable as the Constitution guaranteed individual rights.

Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted that the government would not like the matter to be heard in a piecemeal manner as it has wide ramifications and added that it would prefer a day for detailed hearing.