"Rohingyas shall not be deported unless full procedure is followed"

Disposing of a plea that sought the release of detained Rohingyas in Jammu, Chief Justice of India, SA Bobde-led Supreme Court bench has ruled that Rohingyas cannot be deported unless the government follows the full deportation procedure.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Thursday said that Rohingyas detained in Jammu shall not be deported to Myanmar without following the prescribed process.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde passed the order on a plea seeking immediate release of detained Rohingya refugees in Jammu and a direction to restrain the Centre from deporting them to Myanmar.

The Centre had earlier opposed the plea saying that the country cannot be the capital for illegal immigrants.

READ: Rohingyas gather in Jammu for identification

During the arguments, advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioner, had said that Rohingya children were subjected to killing, maiming and sexual exploitation by the Myanmar military which has failed to respect international humanitarian law.

Violent attacks allegedly by Myanmar army have led to an exodus of Rohingya tribals from the western Rakhine state in that country to India and Bangladesh.
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