NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India has reserved its judgment in a case concerning the indefinite detention of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in the country. The case was heard by a bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan. It was initially brought before the Calcutta High Court but was later transferred to the Supreme Court in 2013.
The Supreme Court of India Today (Feb 12) declared that all children, including Rohingya refugees, must receive equal education without discrimination. Hearing a PIL by the Rohingya Human Rights Initiative, the Court stressed, “In terms of education, there will be no discrimination.” It asked for proof of residence to explore possible relief while ensuring minors’ safety. The next hearing is on February 28.
The Jharkhand High Court, led by Acting Chief Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Arun Kumar Rai, reserved its decision on a public interest litigation addressing ‘illegal’ Bangladeshi immigrants. Petitioner Danish Daniel alleged these immigrants disrupted local livelihoods. A fact-finding committee, proposed by the Union government, will investigate the issue further.
The Central Government informed the Jharkhand High Court of the presence of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in the state, entered via Sahebgunj and Pakur districts. The affidavit also addressed tribal land transfers to Muslims and the decline in the tribal population due to conversions and outward migration. The court directed the government to verify credentials rigorously.
