Migrants’ miseries: Centre, states committed several lapses: SC
New Delhi: Taking cognizance of the miseries of migrant workers, the Supreme Court on Tuesday said there have been inadequacies and certain lapses by the Centre and the states, and asked them to provide transport, food and shelter immediately free of cost.
Referring to various media reports showing the unfortunate and miserable conditions of migrant labourers walking on foot and cycling long distances after the lockdown, the top court issued notices to the Centre, the states and union territories and sought their replies by May 28.
Although the Centre and the states have taken measures to provide relief to the migrants, the court said there have been inadequacies and certain lapses . Effective concentrated efforts are now required to redeem the situation, it added.
The adequate transport arrangement, food and shelters are immediately to be provided by the Centre and State Governments free of costs, said the court which took the suo motu (on its own) cognizance of the situation.
The order by the court came amid criticism by activists and lawyers that the judiciary was not doing enough in tackling the migrants crisis after the coronavirus lockdown and in making the executive accountable. The national lockdown was imposed on March 25 leading to job losses and forcing lakhs of migrant workers to head to their faraway native states.
The apex court on May 15 observed that it is impossible for the courts to monitor or stop the movement of migrant workers across the country and it is for the government to take necessary action in this regard.
We take suo motu cognizance of problems and miseries of migrant labourers who had been stranded in different parts of the country. The newspaper reports and the media reports have been continuously showing the unfortunate and miserable conditions of migrant labourers walking on-foot and cycles from long distances, said a bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, Sanjay Kishan Kaul and M R Shah.
The top court added that in the present situation of lockdown in the entire country, this section of the society (migrant labourers) needs succour and help by the concerned Governments especially steps need to be taken by the Government of India, State Governments/ Union Territories in this difficult situation to extend helping hand to these migrant labourers .
It said the migrant labourers have also been complaining of not being provided food and water by the administration at places where they were stranded or in the way that is highways from where they proceeded on foot, cycles or other modes of transport.
This Court has also received several letters and representations from different sections of society highlighting the problem of migrant labourers. The crises of migrant labourers are even continuing today with large sections still stranded on roads, highways, railway stations and State borders. (PTI)
