The Manipur High Court on Monday granted the petition seeking safe passage of the seven Myanmar nationals to New Delhi and sought protection from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).

The judgment order, issued by Chief Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice Lanusungkum Jamir, stated that it is just and proper to extend protection under Article 21 of the Constitution to these seven Myanmarese persons and grant them safe passage to New Delhi to enable them to avail suitable protection from the UNHCR.

The seven Myanmar citizens, including three journalists, fled their country after the military coup on February 2021 and took shelter at Moreh in Manipur’s Tengnoupal district.

In a petition filed by human rights advocate Nandita Haksar, who appears as a party in person on behalf of the seven Myanmar citizens, stated that after a military coup in neighboring Myanmar during February 2021, the military junta banned Mizzima, an established Myanmarese media and news service, and arrested or detained several of its journalists.

They fled their country fearing prosecution and physical danger after the coup and the violence that broke out thereafter. They entered India and took shelter at Moreh in Tengnoupal district, said the petitioner. The seven Myanmar refugees included three journalists and their families, who were hiding at Moreh until they were brought to Imphal as per an order of the High Court on April 20.

The State and Central Governments shall facilitate their travel to New Delhi and shall not cause any obstruction, the judgment said.

The petitioner states that she will make the required arrangements for the purchase of their air tickets and would also arrange for their stay at New Delhi, pending consideration of their claims for ‘refugee’ status by the UNHCR.