India, May 16 -- The Supreme Court on Friday expressed doubts over a petition alleging that 43 Rohingya refugees, including minors, elderly persons, and some with serious health conditions, were abandoned in international waters during forcible deportation to Myanmar.

A bench of justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh declined to pass any interim orders to halt more deportations, saying the petition lacked material evidence to support its "vague, evasive and sweeping statements." The court said it would not override a Justice Kant-led three-judge bench's May 8 decision denying similar relief in other matters concerning Rohingya refugees.

Justice Kant questioned why similar allegations were being made now and demanded that the petitione...