The bench led by Just. Ashok Bhushan said it was taking suo-moto cognizance of the media reports and several representations that have been received in regards to the plight of migrants.
New Delhi| A three-judge bench in Supreme Court on Tuesday, taking a suo-moto cognizance, ordered the central and state governments to get back to it within 2 days with a report on steps being taken to help migrant workers stranded due to the nationwide Covid-19 lockdown.
The top court’s notice comes hardly 10 days after another bench had refused to intervene in this matter while listening to a petition that wanted the government to identify stranded migrant workers, take care of their needs, and provide free transport to them. On judge on this bench had asked: “How can we stop them from walking?”
It was the first time since the imposition of nation-wide lockdown on 25th March, that the Supreme Court had declined to pressurize the central government to do more for the migrant workers. The Supreme Court had closed the petition on the plight of migrant workers on 27th April after Centre had assured it that over 26,000 relief camps had been made with all arrangements for migrant workers.
On Tuesday, a bench led by Ashok Bhushan said it was taking suo-moto cognizance of the media reports and several representations that have been received in regards to the plight of migrants. Recording its preliminary remarks in the order, the court said the central and state governments should immediately provide adequate transport arrangement, food and shelters “free of costs”.
The bench also comprising of Sanjay Kishan Kaul and MR Shah gave governments time till Thursday to come up with a response on this particular issue. The court also remarked that though the governments have already taken some measure, “yet there have been inadequacies and certain lapses”
“We are of the view that effective concentrated efforts are required to redeem the situation,” the bench said in its two-page order.
The court also said that 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,” the top court said, stressing that “this section of the society needs succour and help” by the governments concerned.
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