Grant refugee status or deport to Myanmar; Rohingyas approach Gauhati HC

Gauhati: Ten Rohingyas of two related families lodged in Tezpur central jail, Assam, have appealed to the Gauhati High Court to either grant them refugee status or send them back to Myanmar. Saidur Rahman, his wife and three children, and Mahmadullah and his wife and three children were arrested in 2014 for entering India without valid documents. They have been in jail since.

While hearing their plea, the court noted that the petitioners admitted to being citizens of Myanmar who were convicted for entering the country without valid documents. They are in jail despite having served the sentences imposed by the court, the court said.

"The plea of the petitioners is that they be allowed to remain in India by granting them refugee status or be deported to their country of origin i.e Myanmar. The authorities, however, are not taking any decision in this regard and they are languishing in jail," the court observed.

The court added that the Special Counsel of Foreigners' Tribunal has sought time to take instructions from the government on how it will act in the case of the petitioners. The matter has been posted for further hearing on December 16.