No Rohingya Muslim refugee should be deported until November 21: SC

The Supreme Court on Friday granted more time to all parties involved in the Rohingya refugees deportation matter to argue and posted it for further hearing on November 21.

Until then, the apex court observed that no Rohingya refugee should be deported until the next date of hearing.News agency ANI quoted the SC bench as saying that national importance cannot be secondary and at the same time, the human rights of the Rohingyas should be kept in mind.

The apex court stated, 'We have to strike a balance. It is not an ordinary case. The issue involves human rights of many."A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra has asked both parties to compile all documents and international conventions for assisting the court.

The court had emphasized earlier that it will hear arguments from the Centre and the two Rohingya Muslim refugees petitioners based on law points only and not on any emotional aspects.

ASG Tushar Mehta, arguing for the Centre, told the three-judge bench of the SC that  "this is an issue involving international ramifications". The Supreme Court said, " If you (Centre) take any kind of contingency plan, you need to inform this court."

On September 18, the Centre told the Supreme Court in an affidavit that they are barring the entry of illegal Rohingyas in the country as they pose a threat to the nation's security as they felt they would pose a threat to national security and integrity.

The Centre had also told the court that deporting Rohingya refugees would be an "executive policy decision" and the judiciary should desist from interfering in the matter.

There are about 11 lakh Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar but they suffer discrimination and are denied citizenship. Some 3,79,000 Rohingyas have fled Myanmar since violence against them in Rakhine state started on August 25, after Rohingya militants attacked police posts there.