Coronavirus Lockdown effect on migrant workers: Centre to file affidavit on steps taken to mitigate crisis by Tuesday

The Supreme Court today asked the Centre to file an affidavit on the steps taken to mitigate the crisis pertaining to the exodus of migrant workers from cities amidst the nationwide Coronavirus lockdown..The Bench of Chief Justice of India SA Bobde and Justice L Nageswara Rao took up the matter for hearing today via video conferencing after the petitioner, Advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava, had sought urgent hearing of the matter.After directing the Centre to file its affidavit on steps taken thus far on the situation, the Court today fixed the next date of hearing on Tuesday, March 31..This PIL had sought directions to the Centre to take appropriate steps to alleviate the trouble faced by migrant workers in the midst of the nationwide Coronavirus lockdown..Solicitor General Tushar Mehta today told the Court that the Centre as well as the states were taking various steps to mitigate the situation. He said that he would file an affidavit on behalf of the Centre regarding the steps taken in this regard..Petitioner-in-person Srivastava argued that there was lack of cohesion and co-operation between the Central government and the state governments in dealing with the crisis..CJI Bobde, howeve,r said that the Court does not wish to deal with things that the government is already taking steps on, and that he would like to take a look at the government's affidavit on the steps taken first. The matter will be heard next on March 31..After the announcement of a three-week nationwide lockdown was made on March 24 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a large number of migrant workers were rendered without any place to go or food to eat. These workers, spread across the country, were stranded in places they migrated to for work, with no mode of transport to take them back home..Various media reports and video clips had emerged since the announcement of the lockdown, showing fleets of these migrant workers taking on the arduous journey to their hometowns on foot.This petition drew the attention of the Court towards such persons. It prays for addressing the plight of these workers and for basic facilities to be provided to them. It is prayed that a direction be given to the Centre to,."to immediately identify such moving/stranded migrant workers and to immediately shift them to the nearest government shelter homes/accommodations with proper food, water, medicines and under medical supervision, in a dignified manner, till the present Coronavirus Lockdown continues.".The petitioner submits that the fundamental rights of these workers under Articles 14 and 21 are being violated, and that too, in the most heart wrenching and inhuman manner. It is also feared that these workers will be stigmatized as carriers of the novel Coronavirus and will also face the uncertainty of not being accepted back in their villages..Read Order:.Read Petition: