The Supreme Court on Monday refused to direct the Centre to provide basic amenities, health and amenities to Rohingya refugees settled in the country and instead order the respective State Governments where they are staying to present a status report on the actual situation on ground.
Following the Centre’s stand on affidavit denying reports that Rohingya Muslim were denied medical facility at Government Hospitals or health centres, the lawyers representing the refugees brought news reports to suggest that the community were denied basic water, sanitation and health facilities.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Tushar Mehta appearing for Centre informed a Bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra that the Government was humane to the needs of the refugees already settled in the country but denied permission to allow more refugees to come in from Myanmar. He suggested these are matters to be tackled diplomatically at the executive level of the two countries.
While the issue of infiltration of refugees posed a security threat to nation’s sovereignty, Mehta maintained that with this PIl, an attempt is being made to change the demographic profile of the country in order to destabilise our security.
Refusing to pass any interim orders, the Court sought a comprehensive report on the conditions prevailing at the refugee camps in Haryana, Rajasthan and J&K. The case will be heard next on April 9.