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Scroll.in
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
India's ‘pushback' policy violates domestic and international law – but won't face global censure
India's 'pushback' policy of forcing across the border individuals claimed to be undocumented migrants violates both domestic and international law, experts say. Since India launched Operation Sindoor against Pakistan on May 7, it has 'pushed' more than 2,000 people into Bangladesh, The Indian Express reported. At least 40 members of the Rohingya community have been deported to Myanmar even though many of them had cards issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The legality of the 'pushback' policy has been debated both in India and internationally. But at home, the Supreme Court has not stopped the deportation of Rohingya refugees despite challenges to such actions pending since 2017. Internationally, there is unlikely to be pressure on India from other nations to stop this strategy since many Western nations also employ similar practices, experts say. 'The problem is that most of Europe and the United States are engaged in this,' said Ravi Nair, executive director of the South Asia Human Rights Documentation Centre. 'So, who is going to bell the cat and say this is wrong when everybody is doing it?' Human rights lawyer and writer Nandita Haksar agreed. 'The Western states that are so vociferous in taking up human rights' also push refugees back from their shores, she said. 'Therefore, it would be difficult for the Western states to raise the issue of refugee rights with India.' The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to allow it to use a wartime law to deport Venezuelan immigrants with little to no due process. — The New York Times (@nytimes) March 28, 2025 Assam's claim The most enthusiastic champion of this policy has been Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who said on Monday that his border state had been responsible for 'pushing back' more than 303 people believed to be Bangladeshi. This has been done under the Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act, 1950, he said. This was the first time Sarma cited a legal justification for 'pushbacks' that the state government has been carrying out since May. As Scroll has reported, at least three of the 14 who were allegedly 'pushed out' of Assam on May 27 were later brought home. They had been deported on the basis of decisions by the state's foreigners tribunals. But the Supreme Court had stayed the decisions of the tribunals in the case of at least two of these individuals as their appeals are pending. The pushback policy violates India's own constitutional guarantees and established legal procedures for deportation, experts said. Forcibly detaining individuals and physically throwing them out of the country violates Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty, applies to all persons within India's territory, regardless of their citizenship status, said Rita Manchanda, research director at the South Asia Forum for Human Rights. This has been underlined by the Supreme Court in several judgements, she noted. The same article was also violated when the Indian authorities deported Rohingya refugees, forcing them into a country that is gripped by civil war and where they face genocide, experts say. 'Pushing them into an active war zone poses a direct threat to their life,' said Anghuman Choudhury, a doctoral candidate in Comparative Asian Studies jointly at the National University of Singapore and King's College London. Choudhury emphasised that Sarma's statement that deportations will be carried out 'without legal process' violates of Article 14 of the Constitution. This article guarantees equality before the law and equal protection of the law to everyone within Indian territory. 'Everyone has a right to be heard as per law,' he said. 'You cannot just pick up any suspected foreigner – even the suspected foreigner needs to go through the legal process.' Besides, these processes have been instituted to ensure that no Indian citizens are expelled from their country, he added. Is this a new policy? Experts told Scroll that while India had engaged in 'push backs' of foreigners before, it had never adopted this as a strategy for deportations. Contrary to Sarma's claim that 'pushbacks' are a 'new innovation', this method has been used on the India-Bangladesh border since at leastt 1979, said Choudhury, the doctoral candidate – but the purpose has changed. Until recently, 'pushbacks' meant that the Assam border police or the Border Security Force would stop individuals they spotted trying to enter India from Bangladeshi territory and force them to return or would 'push back' those who had managed to cross the border into India. 'But those were ad hoc cases,' Choudhury said. 'What we are seeing today seems to be a more large-scale systematic policy.' What is also unusual is India's decision to 'push back' refugees, said Nandita Haksar. 'The rate and cruelty with which refugees, including those recognised by the [United Nations High Commission for Refugees] are being deported even at the risk of their lives is new and disturbing,' she said. Ravi Nair agreed. 'India had pushed back people before…,' he said. 'But this kind of pure abduction and putting them into no man's land is clearly crossing the Rubicon.' Violation of domestic law and due process The legal process for deportations in India is articulated in a Standard Operating Procedure issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs in 2011. All deportations must be initiated by the Ministry of External Affairs sending the identity details of the apprehended foreigner to their country's embassy. The person can be deported only after confirmation of the person's nationality has been received through these diplomatic channels. The current 'pushback' policy bypasses these procedures, Nair said. 'We have to submit the names and the documents of alleged Bangladeshi nationals to the government of Bangladesh,' he said. 'Once those are verified and Bangladesh is willing to take them, then they are sent back. That is clearly not being followed.' Last month, Scroll reported that 40 Rohingya refugees who had been detained in Delhi alleged that they had been forced off a navy vessel in the Andaman Sea with life jackets on May 7 and told to swim towards Myanmar. Choudhury pointed out that the deportations of Rohingya refugees in this manner violated a 2021 order of the Supreme Court. In a case requesting a halt to the expulsions of Rohingya refugees, the court had said that they could be deported. But it explicitly mandated that deportations must adhere to due process, a directive that appears to be 'directly violated' by the current policy, Choudhury said. Breach of international law Experts told Scroll that 'pushing back' refugees violated India's obligations under international law and customary international law. The principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits states from returning individuals to a country where they would face persecution, is considered jus cogens – a peremptory norm of international law binding on all states. 'The principle of non-refoulement is also seen as a customary international law,' making it binding even if a country has not ratified specific conventions, Choudhury said. India is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol. 'But as a member of the UN General Assembly, which is the parent body of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, India is strongly expected to adhere by customary international law,' he said. 'Customary law transcends treaty obligations.' He pointed out that India is a signatory to the Bangkok Principles on Status and Treatment of Refugees, issued in 2001, and the United Nations Global Compact on Refugees, which India signed in 2018. Both mandate non-refoulement as a principle to be upheld by their signatories. India is also a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. These treaties too contain provisions that implicitly or explicitly uphold the principle of non-refoulement, particularly concerning the right to family unity and protection from inhuman treatment, said Aman Kumar, a PhD candidate at the Australian National University who runs the Indian Blog of International Law. 'When you return female refugees back to Myanmar, or you separate children from their parents through deportations, you violate these treaties,' Kumar said. He noted that India had an 'extensive and wide record of accepting refugees as a state practice.' He pointed to asylum granted over the decades to tens of thousands of refugees from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tibet, in stark contrast to the current Indian government's hostility towards Rohingya refugees. Scrutiny of policy unlikely Internationally, India's 'pushback' policy is likely to attract scrutiny from United Nations agencies. On May 15, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights in Myanmar began an inquiry into alleged deportation of 40 Rohingya refugees from Delhi. The special rapporteur, Thomas Andrews, described these alleged acts as 'unconscionable' and 'unacceptable'. Many experts told Scroll that India is already receiving bad press on the issue internationally. However, direct action against India would face significant hurdles. If a country violates treaty obligations, action could be launched against it in the United Nations' International Court of Justice. But geopolitical realities often deter international action, Kumar said. 'India is too strategically important as a huge market and a potential alternative to China in the global supply chain,' he said. As a consequence, he does not foresee another country taking India to the International Court of Justice. In theory, Bangladesh – the country most affected by this policy – could start proceedings against India in the International Criminal Court, said Nair. 'Even though India is not a party to the International Criminal Court, Bangladesh is,' he said. 'A state party can bring a complaint against a non-state party before the court.' However, he said, that possibility was remote because Bangladesh is unlikely to want to aggravate India at a time of fraught relations between the two. Manchanda said that India may face some heat at the United Nations Human Rights Council's upcoming session on June 16. 'I expect that there will be statements made by civil society groups expressing outrage at what India is doing,' she said. She pointed out that in June 2024, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination had called for India to refrain from forcibly detaining and deporting Rohingya refugees to Myanmar. But Manchanda said she was 'unsure about how much traction this would get.' Kumar did not believe the policy would be halted. 'Legally there is essentially nothing stopping India from continuing to carry out such deportations,' he said.
India.com
10-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
India-Pakistan Ceasefire In Effect Across Land, Sea And Air: Commodore Ravi Nair Confirms
In a significant development aimed at de-escalating tensions, Commodore Ravi Nair on Friday confirmed that India has reached a mutual understanding with Pakistan to halt all military operations across land, sea, and air. 'As the Foreign Secretary had said earlier, there is an understanding that has been reached to stop all military activities on sea, air and land,' Nair stated. 'Accordingly, the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy have been instructed to adhere to this understanding.' VIDEO | India-Pakistan ceasefire: Commodore Ravi Nair says, "As the foreign secretary had said, there is an understanding that has been reached to stop all military activities on sea, air and land. The Indian Army, Air Force and Navy have been instructed to adhere to this… — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 10, 2025
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Visual Matrix expands to Dubai with Best Western Premier M Four Hotel partnership
Visual Matrix, a provider of advanced technology solutions for the hospitality industry, has announced a new partnership with Dubai's Best Western Premier M Four Hotel. This collaboration marks Visual Matrix's entry into the Middle East, with the Best Western Premier becoming the first property in Dubai to utilise its property management system (PMS) for full mobile operations. The 175-room Best Western Premier M Four Hotel, situated in the heart of Deira, Dubai's historic centre, will now have access to real-time visibility between housekeeping and front-desk operations through a mobile operating platform (MOP). The partnership claims to enhance the efficiency of hotel operations, allowing staff to work faster, save labour hours, and reduce errors. In addition to operational improvements, the hotel is claimed to benefit from built-in emergency panic buttons on the MOP application, providing staff with added security and quick geolocation in emergencies. An integrated texting system will also enable two-way communication between hotel workers and guests. The Best Western Premier M Four Hotel offers guests two international restaurants and a rooftop shisha cafe. Its location in Al Rigga provides access to Dubai International Airport, Al Ghurair Shopping Mall, and the Al Rigga Metro Station. Visual Matrix serves various brands, including Best Western and Sonesta, and supports hundreds of independent properties worldwide. The company's expansion to Dubai marks its 225th property outside North America. Best Western Premier M Four Hotel general manager Ravi Nair said: 'Choosing the right technology to operate your hotel is crucially important and can be tied to any property's success, which is why we are excited to partner with Visual Matrix to leverage their industry-leading PMS to manage our operations. 'We were initially in the market for a new Best Western-approved PMS, which led us to Visual Matrix. Our team is looking forward to this technology–and the relationship–going forward.' Visual Matrix CEO Georgine Muntz said: 'We are excited to partner with the Best Western Premier M, a four-star hotel located in the heart of Deira, to provide its operations team with a cutting-edge property management system designed to help reduce friction, improve communication and connect with guests.' 'Through our collaboration, the Best Western Premier M will have the tools it needs to provide unparalleled service and stand out in the City of the World.' In September 2024, Talsey AI, an AI-driven guest communication tool provider, collaborated with Visual Matrix for the integration of smart chat technology into hotel operations. "Visual Matrix expands to Dubai with Best Western Premier M Four Hotel partnership" was originally created and published by Hotel Management Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Associated Press
25-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Visual Matrix Expands in the Middle East, Partnering With the Best Western Premier M Four Hotel in Dubai to Provide Advanced Property Management Solutions
FORT WORTH, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 25, 2025-- Visual Matrix, a leading provider of advanced technology solutions for the hospitality industry, announced a new partnership with Dubai's Best Western Premier M Four Hotel. The Best Western Premier will receive access to Visual Matrix's cutting-edge Property Management System, supporting full mobile operations and promoting greater efficiency and profitability. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: A stunning view of one of the five Best Western® hotels in Dubai now powered by Visual Matrix—bringing smarter hotel operations to the heart of the UAE The hotel is Visual Matrix's first property in Dubai, 1st in the Middle East region and 225th outside North America. Full Property Management, Front Desk and Mobile Housekeeping Benefits Under the new partnership, the Best Western Premier M Four Hotel will gain access to: 'Choosing the right technology to operate your hotel is crucially important and can be tied to any property's success, which is why we are excited to partner with Visual Matrix to leverage their industry-leading PMS to manage our operations,' said Ravi Nair, General Manager of the Best Western Premier M Four Hotel. 'We were initially in the market for a new Best Western-approved PMS, which led us to Visual Matrix. Our team is looking forward to this technology–and the relationship–going forward.' The 175-room Best Western Premier M Four Hotel is located in the heart of Deira, the historic center of Dubai. Guests of the hotel will have access to two international restaurants, complemented by a rooftop shisha cafe. 'We are excited to partner with the Best Western Premier M, a four-star hotel located in the heart of Deira, to provide its operations team with a cutting-edge property management system designed to help reduce friction, improve communication and connect with guests,' said Georgine Muntz, CEO of Visual Matrix. 'Through our collaboration, the Best Western Premier M will have the tools it needs to provide unparalleled service and stand out in the city of the World.' For more information on Visual Matrix, visit About Visual Matrix More than 3,000 properties in 30+ countries worldwide choose the Visual Matrix hospitality operating platform to optimize hotel operations and serve guests from reservation to return stay. Our system includes a game-changing PMS supported by powerful features and key integrations that are easy to use, including revenue management with automated rate tiering, a fully integrated channel manager, and a mobile app for tracking performance on the go. The Visual Matrix MOP housekeeping and maintenance tool automates routine tasks and streamlines communication to keep the front desk, housekeeping, and maintenance staff focused on guests It also includes a built-in panic button as an Emergency Safety Device (ESD) to help keep hotel staff from harm. For more information, visit View source version on CONTACT: Michael Frenkel MFC PR [email protected] KEYWORD: UNITED STATES UNITED ARAB EMIRATES NORTH AMERICA MIDDLE EAST TEXAS INDUSTRY KEYWORD: DATA MANAGEMENT LODGING TECHNOLOGY TRAVEL SOFTWARE SOURCE: Visual Matrix Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 04/25/2025 06:44 PM/DISC: 04/25/2025 06:43 PM
Business Wire
25-04-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Visual Matrix Expands in the Middle East, Partnering With the Best Western Premier M Four Hotel in Dubai to Provide Advanced Property Management Solutions
FORT WORTH, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Visual Matrix, a leading provider of advanced technology solutions for the hospitality industry, announced a new partnership with Dubai's Best Western Premier M Four Hotel. The Best Western Premier will receive access to Visual Matrix's cutting-edge Property Management System, supporting full mobile operations and promoting greater efficiency and profitability. The hotel is Visual Matrix's first property in Dubai, 1st in the Middle East region and 225th outside North America. Full Property Management, Front Desk and Mobile Housekeeping Benefits Under the new partnership, the Best Western Premier M Four Hotel will gain access to: Real-time visibility between housekeeping and front-desk operations. Hotel operations teams never have to question the status of a room, and team members can prioritize welcoming new guests. Labor savings and efficiency. Hotels are more efficient using MOP, and leveraging the tool allows hotel staff members to work faster, save labor hours, and reduce errors or mistakes. Built-in emergency panic buttons designed to empower staff at all times. These panic buttons are available on every screen of the MOP application, and when pressed automatically alert designated staff members and security. Integrated texting system allowing two-way communication between hotel workers and guests. 'Choosing the right technology to operate your hotel is crucially important and can be tied to any property's success, which is why we are excited to partner with Visual Matrix to leverage their industry-leading PMS to manage our operations,' said Ravi Nair, General Manager of the Best Western Premier M Four Hotel. 'We were initially in the market for a new Best Western-approved PMS, which led us to Visual Matrix. Our team is looking forward to this technology–and the relationship–going forward.' The 175-room Best Western Premier M Four Hotel is located in the heart of Deira, the historic center of Dubai. Guests of the hotel will have access to two international restaurants, complemented by a rooftop shisha cafe. 'We are excited to partner with the Best Western Premier M, a four-star hotel located in the heart of Deira, to provide its operations team with a cutting-edge property management system designed to help reduce friction, improve communication and connect with guests,' said Georgine Muntz, CEO of Visual Matrix. 'Through our collaboration, the Best Western Premier M will have the tools it needs to provide unparalleled service and stand out in the city of the World.' For more information on Visual Matrix, visit About Visual Matrix More than 3,000 properties in 30+ countries worldwide choose the Visual Matrix hospitality operating platform to optimize hotel operations and serve guests from reservation to return stay. Our system includes a game-changing PMS supported by powerful features and key integrations that are easy to use, including revenue management with automated rate tiering, a fully integrated channel manager, and a mobile app for tracking performance on the go. The Visual Matrix MOP housekeeping and maintenance tool automates routine tasks and streamlines communication to keep the front desk, housekeeping, and maintenance staff focused on guests It also includes a built-in panic button as an Emergency Safety Device (ESD) to help keep hotel staff from harm. For more information, visit
