New Delhi: Supreme Court on Thursday directed states to bear the cost of bus and train fares being charged from the migrants who are heading home due to loss of employment during the nationwide lockdown.
A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, SK Kaul and MR Shah has said that migrants workers shall not be charged for any fare for the journey, either by bus or train. The cost of their travel will have to be shared between the sending and receiving states, as per their arrangments, the SC said.
The SC order further directed states to ensure that all migrant workers, who are stranded at various places, shall be provided food by the concerned state and UT.
The point of food distribution must be publicised and notified to the migrants for the period they are waiting for their turn to board a train or a bus, the SC order said.
In the train journey, the originating states will provide meals and water. Rest of the way, the Railways has been directed to provide meals and water. Food and water to also be provided in buses, the apex court has said.
On May 26, the top court had taken cognizance of the miseries of migrant workers and said there have been “inadequacies and certain lapses” by the Centre and the states, and asked them to provide transport, food and shelter immediately free of cost.
Hearing the PIL on the migrant crisis in India, the SC bench on Thursday said that it was concerned with the miseries and difficulty of migrants trying to get to their native place.
“Although there is not doubt that concerned state governments and UTs are taking steps, there are several lapses in the process of registration, transportation, providing food and shelter to the migrants.” the SC said.
The bench added that even after registration, migrants have to wait for their turn to board the train or bus. A large number of migrants are still proceeding by foot. Though, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta who was representing the Centre in the hearing said that there are instructions to state governments to facilitate a bus or vehicle if any migrants are seen walking on foot.
“At present looking to the difficulties and miseries of the migrants, we are of the view that certain Interim directions are required,” the SC bench said.
The Supreme Court has directed all states and Union Territories to file a reply on the number of migrants in their territory; how many have been helped; and what arrangements have been made for them.
The next hearing on the matter will be on June 5.
