The Centre told the Supreme Court on Thursday that the action to repatriate the seven Rohingya Muslims was taken in due course of law and in the interest of the country. The Assam government had made the arrangements for their repatriation through an immigration check point in Manipur.
A Bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justices S.K. Kaul and K.M. Joseph refused to intervene in a plea made by Mohammed Salimullah, speaking through advocate Prashant Bhushan, to stop the deportation.
“Mr. Bhushan, the government is saying they are illegal and the country of origin has accepted them...” Chief Justice Gogoi said.
Mr. Bhushan argued that the men were among thousands who had fled mass killings, ‘unimaginable torture’ and persecution in Myanmar. The violence that had forced the Rohingya to flee Myanmar and seek asylum in India continues till date and has attracted international condemnation, he said.
He said that it is the constitutional responsibility of the court to protect life.
“Mr. Bhushan, you don’t have to remind us of our responsibility...we are aware of it,” Chief Justice Gogoi retorted.
The seven men are identified as Mohammad Younus, Sabbir Ahamed, Mohammad Jalal, Mohammad Salam, Mokbul Khan, Rahim Uddin and Jalal Uddin.