Malayalis unwilling to work due to ego, we are surviving because of migrant workers: Kerala High Court

Most Malayalis are hesitant to do hard labour due to their egos and it is because of migrant workers that a lot of work is getting done in Kerala, the Kerala High Court orally observed on Thursday [Biju KB v The District Collector and Chairman of the Agricultural Urban Wholesale Market & Ors.]..Justice Devan Ramachandran made the remark while considering a petition raising concern over the engagement of unregistered migrant workers, which also called for their eviction from the Agricultural Urban Wholesale Market in Nettoor.The hearing saw the Court question whether the migrant workers were authorised to occupy this area. However, the judge clarified that the Court was not against migrant labourers in any way, particularly in view of the vital role played by migrant workers in Kerala. “Malayalis are unwilling to work due to their ego. I am not against migrant workers. It is because of them we are surviving,” Justice Ramachandran said..The petition before the Court was filed by a headload worker working at the Tripunithura office of the Kerala Headload Workers Welfare Board.He contended that the traders of the Agricultural Urban Wholesale Market were engaging migrant workers without any registration under the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act 1979.It was further contended that the traders have constructed additional dwellings inside the market for migrant workers to sleep, cook food, and meet their primary needs.He submitted that these acts were illegal and that such an engagement of migrant workers without any registration will lead to crimes, since some of these workers allegedly using drugs, and consumed intoxicating liquor.It was further contended that migrant workers were residing in the market even though the District Collector and Chairman of the Agricultural Urban Wholesale Market took certain steps to resolve the issue after a representation by the petitioner.The petitioner also argued that if proper action is not taken, grave incidents like the in the Aluva child rape and murder case (in which a migrant labourer was convicted by the trial court for the crime) might happen again.“We have had instances in the recent past, in the last 100 days, it has to be taken seriously. It should never happen again. There are many using narcotic drugs. You have to be very careful," the Court remarked, in response..The High Court proceeded to direct the government pleader to inform the Court in three weeks time if any steps are taken to address the issues raised by the petitioner."Under what authority are these people occupying this area, any idea? I am not against them (migrant workers) at all. Where will they stay if we remove them? You tell me what has to be done. Let's not (treat this issue as) adversarial. You tell me what steps have you taken. Three weeks to file statements and counter pleadings," the Court said.The Court also directed the District Collector and Chairman of the Agricultural Urban Wholesale Market to enquire into the allegations made by the petitioner and to submit their findings to the Court..The matter will be heard next after a month. The petitioner was represented by advocates CS Ajith Prakash, Gouri Kailash, TK Devarajan, Babu M, Ancy Thankachan, and Nidhin Raj Vettikkadan.