Migration has to be stopped: Govt to SC amid Covid-19 spread fears | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Migration has to be stopped: Govt to SC amid Covid-19 spread fears

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByMurali Krishnan, New Delhi
Mar 30, 2020 05:43 PM IST

The lockdown sparked an exodus of tens of thousands of migrant workers, mainly daily wagers who lost their livelihoods, from the cities to their homes.

The Centre told the Supreme Court on Monday that the exodus of migrant workers from the cities to their hometowns will have to be stopped to ensure that it does not aggravate the threat posed by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

The exodus of migrant workers from the cities to their hometowns will have to be stopped, the centre told Supreme Court.(Raj K Raj/HT Photo)
The exodus of migrant workers from the cities to their hometowns will have to be stopped, the centre told Supreme Court.(Raj K Raj/HT Photo)

Solicitor general Tushar Mehta spelt out the Centre’s stand during a hearing on a petition filed by two lawyers, asking the court to issue directions to the central and state governments to address the threat arising from the mass migration following the three-week national lockdown imposed on March 25.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

A message should not go out that the government is facilitating the migration, Mehta said. “Migration has to be stopped,”,he said.

The lockdown sparked an exodus of tens of thousands of migrant workers, mainly daily wagers who lost their livelihoods, from the cities to their homes in the hinterland of India. In the absence of public transport, many started walking hundreds of kilometres across state borders, posing the threat that Covid-19 may spread to rural India.

The petition filed by advocates Rashmi Bansal and Anuj Gupta cited the possibility that many of the migrant workers may have been infected by the virus and become carriers of the disease. Desperate to return home, they aren’t maintaining social distancing, posing the threat that the disease may spread, they argued. The workers shouldn’t be allowed to travel without being sanitized / disinfected, the lawyers said.

The Supreme Court, after hearing the Centre and the petitioners through video-conferencing, indicated that it may not be inclined to interfere in the issue since it fell within the executive domain. The bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde, remarked that it did not want to complicate the matter when the government was already dealing with it.

“I think government is taking certain measures. We do not want to complicate things by issuing orders on things the government is already doing”, the CJI said.

The court did not pass any order but allowed the central government to file a status report on the issue. The matter will be heard again on Tuesday.

The petitioners also said the people fleeing the cities should be counselled so that they didn’t panic and run away.

“This fear and panic is a bigger problem than this virus”, CJI Bobde remarked.

The court also sought a status report from the Centre on another petition filed by advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava to address the plight of the migrant workers who are walking hundreds of kilometres to reach their hometowns. Srivastava prayed that such people should be identified and shifted to government shelter homes and provided food, water and medicines.

Unveiling 'Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on Election 2024, India News, Lok Sabha Election 2024 LIVE along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On