- By Gunpreet Singh
Today, The Supreme Court of India heard a plea regarding Rohingya refugee children’s school admissions and government assistance for families who lacked Aadhaar cards. Refugee families who desperately escaped persecution in Myanmar must receive access to schooling, medical services and other essential services despite they lack citizenship status in India.
Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves representing the Petitioners before Justice Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh presented that how Aadhaar card restrictions blocked Rohingya children from attending school or participating in board assessments. Due to their status as refugees he asserted that they do not need to present Aadhaar cards since the administrative rule blocks their educational and healthcare access.
The Petitioners have sought directions in their PIL for granting school access without documentation requirements and receive free admission to educational facilities to Rohingya refugee’s children. The Plea demands directions be issued to universities and educational boards to grant children of Rohingya Refugees the right to sit in exams of their high school final tests and general-degree final tests while exempting them from Aadhaar-based verification. The petition requests Rohingya refugees must receive all the benefits of government welfare plans including medical care at Public Hospitals and PDS food subsidies together with Food Security Act solely based on income. Petitioner further contends in their plea that there should be no distinctions in food and nutrition schemes between Rohingya families and the families classified under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana which represents the country’s poorest class.
The Supreme Court today requested detailed information about residential arrangements of Rohingya refugees within Delhi. Sr. Adv. for the Petitioners Gonsalves in his court submission revealed the Rohingya refugee families in Delhi stays at Shaheen Bagh , Khajuri Khas and Kalindi Kunj. Further, he informed the Bench that Rohingya refugees lives mainly in Shaheen Bagh , Kalindi Kunj slums or either on rent housed in Khajuri Khas.
Bench States , ” In terms of education there will no discrimination we will provide them.But please first give us the residents where they are living and how are they living, their capacity .. just give us the details”‘.
The Court highlighted that residential status serves as a necessity because it determines the educational benefits accessible to Rohingya Refugge’s families.
The Supreme Court directed the Sr. Adv. Gonsasalves to submit details about the living conditions of all Rohingya children within the colony in addition to their specific locations in brief in next 10 days. This information will help the Bench to determine the assistance to refugeed including educational benefits.
Plea remains significant as it challenges the essential rights particularly education to the Rohingya Refugees living in India.
The final ruling will determine refugee access to education rights in India.
Case Title: ROHINGYA HUMAN RIGHTS INITIATIVE (ROHRINGYA) AND ORS. Versus GOVERNMENT OF NCT OF DELHI AND ORS
