A writ petition filed in the Supreme Court of India alleges that the Indian government forcibly deported 43 Rohingya refugees—including children, women, the elderly, and individuals with serious health conditions—by abandoning them in international waters near Myanmar.

The petition, submitted by two Rohingya refugees from Delhi, claims that on May 7, 2025, Delhi Police detained the refugees under the pretext of collecting biometric data. They were subsequently held in various police stations, transferred to the Inderlok Detention Centre, and then flown to Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. There, they were allegedly placed on naval ships with their hands tied and eyes blindfolded. The petition asserts that the refugees were then abandoned in international waters, forcing them to swim to safety using life jackets.

The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta, and N. Kotiswar Singh, is currently hearing cases related to the deportation and living conditions of Rohingya refugees. On May 8, the Court was informed about the arrests and deportations, despite the matter being listed. The Court has scheduled the next hearing for July 31, 2025, without passing any interim directions.

This incident has raised serious concerns about the treatment of refugees and adherence to international human rights norms.

Sources