IN RE: PROBLEMS AND MISERIES OF MIGRANT LABOURERS Vs. IN RE: PROBLEMS AND MISERIES OF MIGRANT LABOURERS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Writ Petition (Civil) Diary No(s). 11394 of 2020 Issue notice. Tag with Suo Motu Writ Petition (Civil) No(s). 6 of 2020. Dasti, in addition, is permitted. Suo Motu Writ Petition (Civil) No(s). 6 of 2020

(2.) In pursuance of our order dated 26.05.2020, several States / Union Territories have filed their responses and a preliminary report on behalf of the Central Government has also been placed by the learned Solicitor General.

(3.) Mr. Tushar Mehta, learned Solicitor General submits that from 01.05.2020, the migrant workers have been sent to their destination i.e. home town by Shramik trains and also by road. From 01.05.2020 to 27.05.2020, 3700 Shramik trains have been operated, 50 lacs migrant workers have been shifted by Shramik trains and about 41 lac migrant workers have been transported by road transport. He further submits that food and water are provided by the originating concerned State from where the migrant workers start their journey and when the journey is undertaken by railways, the railways provides the meal. He further submits that when these migrant workers reach their destination, the receiving State takes care of the migrant workers and drop them to their home by buses. The State also take steps for quarantining those workers and necessary screening is also conducted. With regard to payment of fare of the railway ticket, the learned Solicitor General submits that the fare is borne either by the originating State or the receiving State as per their internal arrangement. In any event, the migrant workers are not asked to bear the fare of the train or bus. He further submits that in cases where fare were taken from the migrant workers as in the case of State of Bihar, the State of Bihar has reimbursed the fare.