SC: How far can law be stretched to accommodate illegal entrants?

New Delhi: Observing that India has sensitive border issues, the Supreme Court on Tuesday asked how far the law could be "stretched" to accommodate illegal immigrants.

A bench of CJI Surya Kant and justice Joymalya Bagchi verbally remarked that India has a "sensitive border" in the northern side. "We hope you are aware of what is happening inside the country... You want a red carpet for them... You enter through a tunnel, etc, and then you are entitled to food, shelter, right to education for children, etc. Do we want to stretch laws like this? Are our poor children not entitled to benefits?" CJI Kant verbally observed.

The remarks fell from the bench during the hearing of a plea pertaining to the alleged disappearance of five Rohingyas who were detained by authorities. The bench remarked that filing a habeas corpus for the release of detained immigrants "is very fanciful". The petitioner apprised that what was being challenged was the disappearance from custody and not their possible deportation.