The government today told the Supreme Court it cannot allow Rohingya Muslims to stay in India as refugees since they pose a threat to national security and could be used by domestic and foreign terror groups to create trouble in the country.

In an affidavit filed in the apex court, the Ministry of Home Affairs has said that intelligence inputs have suggested that Rohingyas are linked with terror groups. The Centre claimed Rohingya militant groups are active in Jammu, Delhi, Hyderabad and Mewat, and could be used by the Islamic State.

"National interest warrants their deportation. No illegal immigrant has the right to stay in India," the affidavit says.

Earlier this week, the United Nations' top human rights official Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein had criticised India for wanting to deport Rohingya refugees. "I deplore current measures in India to deport Rohingyas at a time of such violence against them in their country," Zeid said.

Noting India's obligations under international law, he said: "India cannot carry out collective expulsions, or return people to a place where they risk torture or other serious violations."

The United Nations estimates that some 40,000 Rohingyas have settled in India, and 16,000 among them have received refugee documentation.

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Rohingyas threat to national security, can't stay in India as refugees: Govt to Supreme Court

National interest warrants that Rohingyas be deported from India; no illegal immigrant has the right to stay in India, the Narendra Modi government told the Supreme Court today.