New Delhi, Oct 13 (PTI) The deportation of illegalimmigrants including Rohingyas has to be dealt with only bythe Centre as it is essentially an executive function, a homeministry spokesperson said today.
The assertion comes hours after the Supreme Court decidedto give a detailed and "holistic hearing" from November 21 onthe government's decision to deport Rohingya Muslims toMyanmar.
The ministry spokesperson said that questions regardingillegal immigrants need to be examined keeping in minddiplomatic consideration, internal security situation,demographic changes in the country and duties of the centralgovernment towards its own citizens.
"It was, therefore, desirable that these issues ought tobe handled by policy-making function of the executive," hesaid.
The apex court also observed that a balance has to bestruck between national interest and human rights as the issueinvolved national security, economic interests and humanity.
The ministry spokesperson said, "The central governmentis of the opinion that deportation of illegal immigrants haveto be dealt with only by the central government because it isessentially an executive function of the government."The apex court has not stayed deportation of Rohingyas,he said.
"No interim order has been granted. The Supreme Court hasmerely recorded the statement of the learned counsel for thepetitioner to the effect that in case of any contingency hecan move the court for appropriate interim order," thespokesperson said.
A senior home ministry official said the centralgovernment is duty-bound to protect the fundamental rights ofits citizens first.
"There was no decision by the Supreme Court for oragainst the government. Today's development is a vindicationof the home ministry's (government) stand," he said.
In August, the home ministry had sent a communication toall states saying illegal immigrants like the Rohingyas posegrave security challenges as they may be recruited by terrorgroups, and asked to identify and deport them.
"The MHA circular to the states on deportation ofRohingyas stands," the official added.
The communication had also said that these "illegalimmigrants not only infringe on the rights of Indian citizensbut also pose grave security challenges."Infiltration of (the Rohingyas) from Rakhine state ofMyanmar into Indian territory, especially in recent years,besides being burden on the limited resources of the countryalso aggravates security challenges posed to India, the homeministry had said. PTI ACB AKVTIR.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.