The Supreme Court, taking note of “problems and miseries” of migrants labourers stranded by the coronavirus lockdown across the country has asked the centre and states to list steps taken by them and said it would hear the case on Thursday.
This move comes barely 10 days after another bench refused to intervene on a petition that wanted the government to identify stranded migrant workers, take care of their needs and provide free transport to them.
The Supreme court highlighting the situation of migrants said,
“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. They have also been complaining of not being provided food and water by the administration at places where they were stranded or in the way i.e. highways from which they proceeded on-foot, cycles or other modes of transport. In the present situation of lockdown in the entire country, this section of the society needs succor 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 a helping hand to these migrant labourers.”
A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, Sanjay Kishan Kaul and M R Shah issued notice to the Centre, states and Union Territories and sought their replies by May 28 on the steps taken to redeem the situation and also asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to assist it on the issue.
The Supreme Court issued notice to the centre and states and asked for their response by Thursday.
Read the order here:
