The Centre told the Supreme Court that the Rohingya Muslims are “illegal” immigrants in the country and their countinous stay posed “serious national security ramifications”.
The Centre’s affidavit, filed in the apex court Registry, said the fundamental right to reside and settle in any part of the country is available to citizens only and illegal refugees cannot invoke the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to enforce the right.
Earlier during the day, a bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra considered the statement of ASG Tushar Mehta,
representing the Centre, that the reply would be filed later today and fixed the PIL challenging the deportation of Rohingyas for hearing on October 3.
The government said it may file in sealed cover the details of the security threats and inputs gathered by the various security agencies in this matter.
The Centre said that since India is not a signatory to the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, 1951, the obligations concerned to non-refoulement is not applicable.
The plea, filed by two Rohingya immigrants, Mohammad Salimullah and Mohammad Shaqir, who are registered refugees under the United Nations High Commission of Refugees (UNHCR),
claimed they had taken refuge in India after escaping from Myanmar due to widespread discrimination, violence and bloodshed against the community there.