In Brief
This case concerns detained Rohingya refugees from Myanmar seeking release from detention and protection from deportation. The petitioners argued that the principle of non-refoulement (non-return to persecution) is protected under Articles 14, 19(1)(e), and 21 of the Constitution, and that India's commitments under international human rights conventions should prevent deportation despite not being a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention. The Supreme Court held that while Articles 14 and 21 protect all persons, the right to reside in India is limited to citizens under Article 19(1)(e). International conventions only bind India if ratified. The Court dismissed the interim relief request but mandated that any deportation must follow prescribed legal procedures.
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