Supreme Court Affirms Education for Rohingya Children, Seeks Residence Details
New Delhi, 13th February 2025: The Supreme Court of India has recently affirmed that all children, including those of Rohingya refugees, are entitled to equal access to education, regardless of their citizenship status or documentation. This statement was made during a hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) initiated by the NGO Rohingya Human Rights Initiative, which sought to eliminate the mandatory requirement of Aadhaar cards or proof of citizenship for Rohingya children seeking admission to schools.
During the proceedings, a bench of Justices Surya Kant and NK Singh emphasized that education should be accessible to all children without discrimination. The court’s primary concern was to ascertain the residential locations of these Rohingya families in order to facilitate appropriate relief measures. Senior Advocate Colin
Gonsalves, representing the Rohingya Human Rights Initiative, submitted an affidavit containing details of the refugees’ residence and highlighting that they possess identification cards from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The court has scheduled a further hearing on the matter after a period of 10 days to allow for a thorough examination of the provided details.
The petition seeks to direct government authorities to grant admission to all Rohingya children, irrespective of Aadhar cards, and allow them to participate in all examinations without insistence on ID proof. The court acknowledged the challenges faced by the Rohingya community, especially children who are out of the education system due to bureaucratic obstacles. The Supreme Court’s intervention is a significant step towards ensuring that these children can access their
fundamental right to education.
