After months of misery and uncertainty faced by migrant labourers and workers due to sudden lockdown, a bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, Sanjay Kishan Kaul and MR Shah of the Supreme Court issued notices to the central and all the state governments. “Although the government of India and the state governments have taken measures yet there have been inadequacies and certain lapses”, the notice read.
The apex court has asked the centre, states and the Union Territories to file a reply by May 28. It has also asked solicitor General Tushar Mehta to appear before the court and list out the steps taken to control the situation. This is the first time, since March 25, that the apex court has taken any action against this situation.
On May 15, advocate Alakh Alok Shrivastava filed a petition which referred to the incidents of migrants travelling home on their own who died on the highways. He also mentioned the incident in which 16 migrants, sleeping on the railway track, were mowed down by a train in Maharashtra’s Aurangabad area. The court rejected the petition by saying, “How can we stop them from walking? It is impossible for this court to monitor who is walking and who is not waking. Let the state decide. Why should the court hear or decide?” This remark was widely criticized. But now the court has stressed on the case and said, “In the present situation of lockdown, this section of society needs succour and help by the governments concerned. We are of the view that free and adequate transport, food and shelters should be provided to them immediately”.