Supreme Court: The 3-judge bench of Ashok Bhushan, SK Kaul and MR Shah, JJ will pass the order in the matter related to the problems and miseries of migrant labourers who had been stranded in different parts of the country on June 9, 2020.
“List the matter on 09.06.2020 for orders.”
The Court had, on 26.05.2020, taken up the issue suo motu based on, newspaper and media reports and several letters and representations it received from different sections of society highlighting the problem of migrant labourers. The Court had directed the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to assist the Court and by the next date of hearing bring in the notice of the Court all measures and steps taken by the Government of India and to be taken in this regard.
After receiving the response from the Government, the Court had issued the following interim directions on May 28, 2020:
- No fare either by train or by bus shall be charged from any migrant workers.
- The migrant workers who are stranded at different places in the country shall be provided food free of cost by the concerned States/Union Territories at different places which shall be publicized and notified to them during the period they are waiting for their turn to board the train or bus.
- The originating State shall provide water and meal and during the journey, the railways shall provide meal and water to the migrant workers and same facilities shall be extended when the migrant workers are transported by bus. The State shall take care of providing necessities water and meal during the period of transportation either in the bus or in the camps on the way.
- The State shall simplify and speed up the process of registration of migrant workers and also provide help desk for registration at the places where they are stranded.
- The State shall try to endeavour that after registration the workers should be asked to board the train or bus at the earliest and complete information should be publicized to all the concerned regarding mode of transport.
- Those migrant workers who are found walking on the highways or roads shall be immediately taken care by the concerned State / Union Territories and they shall be provided the transport to the destination and all facilities including food and water be provided to those found walking on the road.
- The receiving State, after the migrant workers reach his native place, shall provide transport, health screening and other facilities free of cost.
[In re : Problems and Miseries of Migrant Labourers, SUO MOTU WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) No(s). 6/2020, order dated 05.06.2020]
