Supreme Court to Review Plea for Release of Rohingya Refugees

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a plea in March requesting the release of Rohingya refugees who are reportedly detained “illegally and arbitrarily” across various jails and detention centers in India. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioner Priyali Sur, emphasized the urgency of the matter, noting the prolonged detention of Rohingya refugees without a response from the Union of India despite a notice issued by the court.

The plea underscores the plight of Rohingya refugees, describing them as the world’s most persecuted ethnic minority, fleeing Myanmar due to persecution deemed as genocide and crimes against humanity by international bodies. The petition seeks to protect the refugees’ rights to life and equality under the Indian Constitution, highlighting their statelessness and the inhumane treatment they face in India, including arbitrary arrests and limited access to necessities.

The plea urges the court to direct the government to release Rohingya detainees and refrain from further arbitrary detention based on accusations of illegal immigration.