Can't roll out red carpet for intruders: Supreme Court

04-Dec-2025

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The Supreme Court on Dec 2 came down heavily on petitioners who had filed a habeas corpus writ petition for five Rohingya intruders, stating that a red carpet cannot be rolled out for those who enter the country illegally.

"You enter illegally by cutting a fence or through a tunnel, and then say that now that you have entered, you are entitled to all rights - notice, food, and even rights for your children. We also have poor people in this country. Are they not entitled to certain benefits and privileges? Should we give these benefits to others instead?" asked the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant-led bench.

The CJI asked where the Home Ministry order was that defines under what conditions and on what basis a person is considered a refugee. "'Refugee' is a legally defined term," he remarked.