The petition, submitted through advocate Satya Mitra, requested the court to cancel a circular issued by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government on December 23, 2024. This circular prevents government schools in Delhi from admitting Rohingya children.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday (31st Dec) asked for details about where Rohingya refugees are staying in Delhi.
A bench led by Justice Surya Kant and including Justice N. Kotiswar Singh was hearing a petition filed by NGO Rohingya Human Rights Initiative.
The petition, submitted through advocate Satya Mitra, requested the court to cancel a circular issued by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government on December 23, 2024. This circular prevents government schools in Delhi from admitting Rohingya children.
The NGO also asked the Supreme Court to direct the Delhi government to allow free education for all Rohingya children, even if their families do not have Aadhaar cards.
Justice Surya Kant told senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, who was representing the NGO, to submit an affidavit providing details on where the Rohingya refugees are living and identify specific areas of their residence.
The bench ordered the NGO to file an affidavit and scheduled the case for hearing in the second week of February. At the beginning of the hearing, the judges indicated that they were not inclined to hear the plea.
“The prayer pertains to Rohingyas in Delhi…why don’t you go to Delhi High Court?,” the bench asked Gonsalves.
Gonsalves informed the court that there are around 1,050 Rohingya refugees in Delhi, mainly living in areas like Shaheen Bagh and Khazuri Khas. The judges then asked him to submit a detailed affidavit clarifying whether the refugees are living in normal houses or confined to camps.
“As it will mould the nature of relief…,” the bench stated.
Seeking an urgent hearing, Gonsalves highlighted that exams would begin soon, and Rohingya children would miss out on their education.
“Exam will only be there if they are admitted…,” the bench responded.
Gonsalves argued that the Delhi government is identifying these children, but this process is being used to prevent their admission.
“The Delhi government says identify them and the identification is being done to prevent them from going ahead,” he stated. He assured the bench that he would submit all required details.
The Delhi government’s circular had instructed schools to strictly follow admission procedures and verify documents to prevent the enrollment of ‘illegal‘ Bangladeshi migrants.
This case will now be heard in February.
Case Title: ROHINGYA HUMAN RIGHTS INITIATIVE (ROHRINGYA) AND ORS. Versus GOVERNMENT OF NCT OF DELHI AND ORS., W.P.(C) No. 57/2025
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