SC agrees to hear plea seeking release of Rohingyas detained in Jammu

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday said it would hear on March 25 a plea seeking release and protection of over 150 Rohingya refugees reportedly detained in Jammu, as part of the administration’s process to deport them back to Myanmar from the Union Territory.

The bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde was hearing a plea filed by a member of the Rohingya community, Mohammad Salimullah, represented by advocates Prashant Bhushan and Cheryl d’Souza.

The plea contended that around March 7, 2021 regarding the nearly 150-170 Rohingya refugees have been illegally detained and jailed in the Jammu sub-jail, which has been converted into a holding centre.

“The Inspector General of Police, Jammu Mukesh Singh stated that they face deportation back to Myanmar following verification by their embassy,” it claimed.

During the course of hearing, Bhushan also referred the current situation in Myanmar with the military coup in the last month.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing on behalf of the Centre, said the submissions in the application were factually wrong.

The bench asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to come with a response to the plea next week. (UNI)