New Delhi, Mar 7: The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted more time to the Union of India (UOI) to
file an affidavit with respect to the allegations as claimed by the petitioners
that Rohingyas were allegedly being pushed back from the borders.
Rohingya Muslim refugees on Wednesday asked and
pleaded the central government to grant them the same status as Sri Lankan
Tamil refugees.
The central government sought from the apex
court for one more week's time to file its reply on the charges that BSF was
allegedly using chilli spray and stun guns to push back Rohingya Muslim
refugees from the border.
The prayer of the central government was allowed
by the top court.
A three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra and also comprising Justices AM
Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud was hearing many petitions, including that of
Mohammed Sallimullah and from the central government.
The top court fixed the matter for further
hearing to March 19, Monday.
Sallimullah and others had knocked the doors of
the apex court seeking its intervention and direction not to deport the
Rohingyas to Myanmar. "If they would be deported, they may be killed in
Myanmar," they pleaded.
Senior Supreme Court lawyer and noted legal
expert Prashant Bhushan was appearing for the petitioner, Sallimullah In the
matter and pleaded to the apex court for taking a humane approach and not to
deport them to Myanmar till their petition was being heard property and in
great detail.
Bhushan had submitted to the apex court that
those Rohingyas who want to come to India should not be pushed back by the
Border Security Forces (BSF). The force is allegedly using chilli powder to
push them. He had told the top court that this kind of alleged act was gross
violation of the international conventions on refugees.
Bhushan had also submitted to the apex court
that the Indian government must be prevented from stopping the Rohingyas
entering India because of persecution faced in Myanmar.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Tusshar
Mehta, appearing for the central government, submitted to the court that the
UOI was effectively taking diplomatic steps to solve the crisis. UNI
