May 28, 2020: The Supreme Court on Thursday provided various relief measures to stranded migrant workers during COVID 19 lockdown.
The apex court passed interim order in the suo motu matter on the COVID-19 migrant crisis. A Bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, SK Kaul and MR Shah ordered that migrant workers will not have to pay either train or bus fare to reach their home states.
Directing that states must share the travel fare of migrant workers, the Bench said: “Originating state shall provide meal and water at station. Railways shall provide meals to migrant workers during train journey and states shall provide meals for migrants in buses. Thereafter, states shall provide transport, meals from stations to their villages.”
The Supreme Court also ordered that states must provide food, water to stranded migrant workers. “Migrant workers who are stranded shall be provided food by the concerned state at places which shall be publicised and notified.”
The SC has also ordered setting up of help kiosks to register stranded migrant workers.
The Bench observed that even after registration, migrants have to wait for their turn to board the train or bus. Hence, a large number of migrants are still proceeding by foot.
“We further direct that those migrant workers found walking on the roads, immediately be taken to shelters and provided food and all facilities should be provided to them,” said the apex court.
It further directed that the state shall oversee the registration of migrant workers and states will ensure that after registration, migrant workers are made to board the train or bus. Further ensuring smooth return of migrant workers, the Bench said, “As and when the state governments put in a request for trains, railways has to provide them.”
After passing the interim orders, the Supreme Court asked the Centre and States to submit their detailed reports by June 5, which is the next date of hearing in the case. The Court further directed that all necessary details regarding the number of migrants, plan for transportation mechanism of registration and other details should be brought on record in the reply.
Earlier, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the Court about the steps taken in the migrant worker crisis. He said that around one crore migrant workers have been shifted to their homes by train and buses.
“We have shifted over one crore migrant workers. But there are also workers who did not shift due to the reopening of activities. Migrants are walking because of anxiety or local level instigation where they are said ‘walk now, trains won’t run, lockdown is extended’,” SG Mehta told the Bench.
On the last date of hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta was asked to apprise the Court on the steps taken by the Central government to deal with the crisis faced by migrant workers.
When Justice Kaul asked the SG how long it will take to transport all the migrant workers to their home states, he repiled that the Centre would file a comprehensive report soon. The SG added that the Centre will only be able to give details of stranded migrants when the state governments provide such information.