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Synopsis

Justice Moushumi Bhattacharya of Calcutta High Court on Thursday directed the Central government not to deport four Rohingya women to Myanmar until August 10.

The order was passed upon the matter being mentioned by the counsel for the Rohingya women stating that they had received a verbal communication that they would be deported the following day.

The four women, who are presently in Dumdum correctional home though their detention period ended in July 2019, filed a plea before the high court seeking direction to the authorities to not deport them to Myanmar.

The court order notes that the matter was mentioned on behalf of the petitioners on Thursday. The advocate for petitioners submitted that the Rohingya women received verbal communication from the jail authorities that they would be deported to Myanmar on August 5, 2022 (Friday). It reads that the advocates for the authorities informed the court that they did not have any instructions for any such order of deportation.

As per the order, the judge, on hearing the submissions, was of the view that since the mentioning before the court was in the teeth of what was sought in the writ petition, it would be appropriate that the authorities do not deport the women till the Court takes up the matter for hearing.

Court, thus, directed the authorities not to give effect to any order of deportation of the four Rohingya women, if any such order has been passed after filing of the writ petition. The judge directed the authorities to provide the women with facilities that are commensurate to their right to live with dignity.

Court further directed the women to file a supplementary affidavit bringing the subsequent events on record and to serve an advance copy of it to the counsel for the authorities.

The matter will come up for further hearing on August 10, 2022.

Case title: Fatema Begum Vs Union of India