The bench of Justice Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh while hearing the matter informed that the court wanted to know the whereabouts of Rohingyan Muslims.

The Supreme Court in its recent order passed on Wednesday has declared that there should be no discrimination when it comes to the education of the children and thus, directed the Centre and the Delhi government to grant Rohingya refugees in the city access to public schools and hospitals.

The order was passed when the court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by NGO Rohingya Human Rights seeking directions to ensure that school admission and government benefits are given to Rohingya refugees without any insistence on Aadhaar cards and irrespective of their citizenship status.

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The bench of Justice Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh while hearing the matter informed that the court wanted to know the whereabouts of Rohingyan Muslims including their where they are living and what their particulars are. Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for the NGO Rohingya Human Rights Initiative, said he has filed an affidavit giving the details and pointed out that the Rohingya refugees have UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) cards.

Making its statement clear, “in terms of education, there will be no discrimination” it said.

Justice Surya Kant added that it would be easier for the NGO to give the particulars if the Rohingyan families have these cards, Justice Surya Kant said.

Gonsalves said Rohingya refugees resided in Shaheen Bagh, Kalindi Kunj and Khajuri Khas areas of Delhi.

“In Shaheen Bagh and Kalindi Kunj they are residing in slums and in Khajuri Khas they are residing in rented accommodation,” he had submitted.

Gonsalves had sought some time to provide more information to the court. The top court had posted the matter to be heard after 10 days.

The PIL has sought a direction to authorities to grant admission to all Rohingya children free of cost irrespective of Aadhar cards and allow them to participate in all examinations, including Classes 10 and 12 and graduation, without government insistence on ID proof.

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Earlier, the Delhi High Court had had refused to entertain a similar plea seeking the direction to the Delhi government to grand school admission to children of Rohinya refugees who had come from Myanmar to India. And the High Court had suggested that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs could be approached on this issue.

“Court should not be a medium in this” the High Court had said orally while hearing the matter in October.

The PIL filed also had sought extension of other benefits including free health services in government hospitals, subsided food grains as available under Antyodya Anna Yojana scheme and benefits under the Food Security Act for Rohingya families as available to other citizens.