Main Article: Covid-19 | Situation of Migrant Workers Amidst Lockdown
Two more petitions were filed and tagged along with the lead petition:
i. Writ Petition (C) No. 469/2020 – Rashmi Bansal and Anr. v. Union of India
ii. Writ Petition (C) No. 469/2020 – Mahua Moutr. v. Union of India
Petitioner informed the Court that United Nations had appreciated the earlier orders of the Court.
This UN report states:
The High Commissioner welcomed the instruction of India’s Supreme Court on Tuesday stating that the migrants be treated in a humane manner, including by providing them with enough food, water, beds and supplies as well as psychosocial counselling in shelters that are run by volunteers and not security forces.
“The Supreme Court’s order and its implementation will go a long way to ensuring the safety and rights of these vulnerable migrants”, Ms. Bachelet said. “Many of these people’s lives have been suddenly uprooted by the lockdown, placing them in very precarious situations”.
Sandeep Dutta, UN News https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/04/1060922
Petitioner had on 06 April 2020, filed an application seeking free transportation from the shelter home to the destinations, one month’s wage, ration etc. The bench comprising CJI Bobde and LN Rao, however, observed that the application had not reached them.
The prayers in this application include:
(i) After Lockdown is over, provide Free Transportation to each migrant labourer from the respective shelter homes to his/ her destination, through Special Train/Bus.
(ii) After Lockdown is over, provide an Ex-Gratia amount equivalent to one month statutory minimum wage to each migrant labourer so that he/ she can find a new job or effectively resume previous self-employment in
one month;(iii) After Lockdown is over, provide one month free Ration to each migrant labourer without insisting for Ration Card;
https://www.livelaw.in/pdf_upload/pdf_upload-372225.pdf Live Law
Matter was adjourned by two weeks.
