On Wednesday (February 12), the top court of the country said education shall be provided to all children without discrimination in response to a PIL filed seeking government benefits and school admissions for Rohingya refugees. The court, however, added that before deciding on the benefits for the Rohingya refugees, the status of residence of their families needs to be ascertained.
Emphasising that children’s education should not face discrimination, the Bench, comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice N Kotiswar Singh, directed the NGO to submit address proof of Rohingya immigrants in Delhi to assess possible relief measures.
Additionally, the court ordered the NGO not to disclose personal details of minor children. The court will hear the matter again on February 28.
This directive came in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the NGO, which sought a mandate ensuring that Rohingya refugees could enrol their children in schools and access government benefits without requiring Aadhaar cards or citizenship verification.
Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves, representing the petitioner, argued that the Rohingya refugees were in a dire situation, unable to secure school admissions for their children in Delhi.
When the Supreme Court requested their residential details, Gonsalves noted that the refugees possessed identity cards issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), recognizing their status.
The Bench stated that once details regarding the Rohingya immigrants’ living conditions were submitted, it would determine how to assist.
