New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday (May 16), while questioning the authenticity of materials placed before it seeking its intervention, refused to pass an interim order to stay any further deportation of Rohingyas, saying a three-judge bench had in another petition declined similar relief on May 8.
A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice N Kotiswar Singh rapped the petitioners claiming 43 Rohingya refugees including senior citizens, women and children were dropped in the Andaman sea for deportation to Myanmar and directed the matter be placed before the three-judge bench on July 31.
Where is the material to substantiate your allegations, bench asked counsel
The bench, while saying that the materials placed by petitioners seemed to be collected from social media, termed the averments made in the petition as “beautifully crafted story using flowery language.”
“Every day you come with a new story. What is the basis of this story? Where is the material to substantiate your allegations?” the bench asked and added, “when the country is going through such a tough time you bring up these fanciful petitions.”
Several Rohingyas were deported after being taken to Andaman, counsel claimed
Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, who appeared for the petitioners, claimed that several Rohingyas were deported after being taken to Andaman and then they were put in the sea with life jackets after the last hearing on May 8 and these Rohingyas are now in the war zone and facing the risk of getting killed. He further claimed that the petitioners got a call from Myanmar from one of the deported.
Gonsalves further told the bench that the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner had also taken note of the matter and has started an inquiry into it.
“People sitting outside cannot dictate our authorities and sovereignty.,” the bench said.
Bench directed matter be placed before three-judge bench on July 31
The bench eventually asked Gonsalves to serve a copy of the petition to the office of the attorney general and the solicitor general and directed the matter be placed before a three-judge bench on July 31.
“There is no material in support of the vague, evasive and sweeping statements made in the writ petition. Unless the allegations are supported with some prima facie material it is difficult for us to sit over the interim order passed by a larger bench. Let these applications be also listed before three judges bench and be taken up on July 31.
