New Delhi, Feb 13 : The Supreme Court has emphasized that there should be no discrimination in education for Rohingya refugee children. During a hearing on a petition filed by an NGO, the court stated that no child should be denied education due to their identity. The NGO argued that Rohingya refugees should be allowed school admissions and access to government benefits without needing Aadhaar cards or citizenship proof.
Key Points:
– Supreme Court highlights non-discrimination in education for Rohingya children.
– NGO seeks school admissions and government benefits for Rohingya children without Aadhaar or citizenship proof.
Case Overview:
In a landmark decision on Wednesday, the Supreme Court ruled that children of Rohingya refugees should not face educational discrimination. The bench, led by Justice Suryakant and Justice N. Koteshwar Singh, stressed that educational opportunities should be equal for all children, regardless of their background.
Petition for School Admissions and Benefits:
The issue arose during a hearing on a public interest litigation filed by the NGO ‘Rohingya Human Rights Initiative.’ The NGO demanded that Rohingya refugees be granted school admissions and government benefits without requiring Aadhaar cards or proof of citizenship.
The Supreme Court acknowledged the difficulties faced by Rohingya children in accessing education. It also emphasized protecting the privacy of minors by ruling that their identities should not be disclosed publicly.
Verification and Assistance Measures:
The bench requested proof of residence for Rohingya families before considering any relief measures. It suggested using registration numbers for identification instead of personal details to maintain privacy.
The NGO’s lawyer highlighted the difficult living conditions of Rohingya refugees, which hinder their children’s access to education. Acknowledging this, the court noted that once the residence of Rohingya refugees is verified, necessary steps would be taken to provide relief.
The NGO argued that the Rohingya community possesses UNHCR-issued cards confirming their refugee status. The Supreme Court indicated that, upon verification, it would look into measures to ensure that these children receive non-discriminatory educational opportunities.
