Context:
- The SC was hearing a petition filed by two Rohingya Muslim refugees for protection of the life and liberty of their community challenging Union Government’s move to deport them from country.
- Petitioners in their plea had mentioned Government’s move violated constitutional guarantee that Indian state should protect the life and liberty of every human being, whether citizen or not.
- As per petition, Government’s proposed deportation is contrary to Indian constitutional protections guaranteed under Article 14 (equality), Article 21 (right to life) and Article 51(c) (respect for international law and treaty obligations) of the Constitution.
SC View:
- The Supreme Court has asked Union Government to strike a balance between humanitarian concern for Rohingya community staying in India and country’s economic and national security interests.
- The apex court underlined that both executive and judiciary cannot be totally oblivious to condition of women and children among Rohingya refugees and said that crisis has thrown up an extraordinary situation.
- With this, the status quo held by Government continues even though the court gave the community liberty to approach it in case of any contingency.