Centre resists before SC any interim order on Rohangiyas

The Centre on Monday opposed before the Supreme Court a plea to issue directions to grant health and education facilities to the Rohangiya children lodged in camps here, saying there has not been a single case of denial of these services.

Reiterating that the issues should be at best left to the executives, Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted before a three-judge bench presided over by Chief Justice Dipak Misra that the court should also look into the genesis of the PILs before it, asking if those were meant for "disintegration and destablishing the country".

The bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, however, asked the Centre to file a comprehensive report about the situation prevailing in the camps at Delhi, Haryana and other place.

The court also favoured the Centre's submission that no interim order should be passed on pleas.

Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves sought direction to provide basic health and education facilities to the children over there. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for two Rohingya refugees Mohammad Salimullah and Mohammad Shaqir, said it was in the interest of humanity that the order should be issued.

Senior Advocate Ashwani Kumar, also representing some of the petitioners, said the issue was of Article 21 of the Constitution and adherence to international conventions. "The core issue is if India will stand up to 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'," he asked.

Mehta, however, countered them saying any order passed may have repercussions on India's diplomatic relations with Myanmar and Bangladesh.

"The way PILs are being filed nowadays, this court should take a view as to who wants to change the demography of the country, who wants destabilisation and who wants to disturb the internal security of the country," Mehta said.

The bench posted the matter for further hearing on April 9.