SC wants all migrants sent home in 15 days

Centre says no death on Shramik trains due to lack of food, water, medication

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 5

The Supreme Court today indicated that it intended to give 15 days to the Centre and state governments to send home all migrant workers still stuck across the country due to the lockdown.

The court said all those wanting to go back home should be registered by the authorities for extending benefits of welfare measures, including employment opportunities.

The observation came during a hearing on a PIL on migrant workers’ plight before a Bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan. The Bench took note of the submissions of the Centre and the state governments on steps taken to mitigate misery of the migrants stranded across the country during the lockdown.

Last month, the apex court had taken suo motu cognisance of migrant workers’ miseries and ordered states to provide them free food, shelter and travel.

The Centre today informed the court that no migrant worker had died on Shramik Special trains due to lack of food, water or medication. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta denied any negligence on part of the Railways and the GRP.

All reported deaths had occurred due to pre-existing ailments, Mehta claimed. He said 4,228 trains had ferried home over one crore migrant workers till June 3 and 90 per cent of them had already reached their native places. However, he said 171 more trains were needed.

After hearing arguments of advocates representing the Centre, states, UTs and others, the Bench said it would pronounce its verdict on June 9.