Indian Supreme Court rejects Sri Lankan’s deportation appeal

21-May-2025

.

The Supreme Court has firmly rejected an appeal from a Sri Lankan Tamil citizen seeking protection from deportation, emphasizing that India cannot serve as a refuge for displaced persons from around the world given its existing population pressures.

“Is India to host refugees from all over the world? We are already struggling with a population of 140 crore. This is not a *dharmashala* where we can entertain foreign nationals from everywhere,” declared the bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and K Vinod Chandran during Monday’s proceedings.

Justice Datta specifically questioning the petitioner’s “right to settle here” and clarifying that while Article 21 concerning his detention had not been violated, Article 19’s settlement rights apply exclusively to Indian citizens. 

The Court’s position reflects growing tensions in India’s approach to refugee management, particularly regarding individuals with criminal convictions, as it balances humanitarian concerns against national security and demographic considerations. The bench’s suggestion that the petitioner “go to some other country” underscores the limitations of India’s current refugee accommodation policies.