New Delhi, October 4: The Supreme Court on Thursday cleared decks for the deportation of seven Rohingya refugees to Myanmar. The apex court refused to interfer in the central government's decision and said the seven Rohingyas were found by the competent court as illegal immigrants. “We are not inclined to interfere on the decision taken,” the apex court said.

During the hearing, the central government told the apex court that the seven Rohingyas have illegally migrated to India in 2012 and they were convicted under Foreigners Act. Myanmar has issued a certificate of identity to the seven Rohingyas along with one month visa to facilitate their deportation, the government added.

On Wednesday, advocate Prashant Bhushan moved a plea seeking to restrain the Centre from deporting to Myanmar seven Rohingyas lodged in a detention centre at Silchar in Assam. At present, the Rohingyas are lodged in the Silchar Detention centre in Assam. They will be handed over to the Myanmar authorities in Moreh border post in Manipur.

Earlier, a PIL was filed earlier by two Rohingya immigrants — Mohammad Salimullah and Mohammad Shaqir — challenging the Centre’s decision to deport over 40,000 refugees who came to India after escaping from Myanmar due to widespread discrimination and violence against the community.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 04, 2018 11:35 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).