Retired High Court judges, senior advocates and legal scholars have penned an open letter to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant voicing exception to “unconscionable remarks” made from his Bench about Rohingyas while hearing a petition raising concern about the custodial disappearance of a group of them in India.
During a December 2 hearing of the petition filed by activist Rita Manchanda, Chief Justice Kant was reported in the media as orally questioning the refugee status of Rohingyas and whether intruders ought to be welcomed with a red carpet.
“When those who flee violence and persecution are dismissed with rhetoric that is hostile to their very dignity, it threatens the foundational values of our Constitution and undermines public faith in the courts as a refuge for the vulnerable… We therefore call upon you to reaffirm, in public statements, remarks in court and judicial verdicts, a commitment to constitutional morality based on human dignity and justice for all, regardless of origin. The majesty of the Supreme Court and your office is measured not merely by the number of verdicts or administrative measures but more by the humanity with which those verdicts are delivered and considered,” the open letter addressed to Chief Justice Kant said.
