Allahabad HC Seeks Status Report On Facilities Being Provided To Stranded Workers/ Labourers [Read Order]
The Allahabad High Court on Thursday asked the state Government to provide details on the facilities being provide to the workers/ laborers who are walking miles to reach their native places in the State of UP. A report is also sought on the status of workers/ labourers who are stranded in the state. The direction was made by a bench of Justices Anil Kumar and Saurabh Lavania, in a...
The Allahabad High Court on Thursday asked the state Government to provide details on the facilities being provide to the workers/ laborers who are walking miles to reach their native places in the State of UP.
A report is also sought on the status of workers/ labourers who are stranded in the state.
The direction was made by a bench of Justices Anil Kumar and Saurabh Lavania, in a PIL seeking directions to safeguard the rights of migrant workers.
"We direct the learned counsel for the respondents to file status report by way of an affidavit in the matter in issue by the next date of listing indicating therein that what facilities have been provided to the workers/laborers who are keen to reach their native place in the State of U.P., some of which are on the way as also to the stranded workers/labourers in the State of UP," the bench ordered.
The Petitioner, Dileep Kumar Mishra had sought a direction to both the Central as well as the State Governments to ensure that the migrant/ labourers who are moving on the road are not left starving and to provide them essential necessities like food, drinking water and medical help, along with free of cost transportation to enable them to reach to their native places.
Resisting the PIL, Assistant Solicitor General SB Pandey had submitted that adequate measures for protection of rights of migrants were already being taken by the Government in compliance of the Supreme Court orders as well as the Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on movement of stranded workers.
He relied on a Supreme Court's order dated May 5, 2020 in Jagdeep S. Chhokar & Anr. v. Union of India, whereby a special bench had disposed of the plea on the issue of rights of migrant workers while observing that all necessary steps in that direction were being taken care of by the Centre & States.
Reliance was also placed on Harsh Mander & Anr. v. Union of India & Anr., whereby the top court observed that that the country had found itself in an unusual state of affairs and that the stakeholders involved were trying to "do their best".
The ASG thus ensured the Court that the guideline issued by the MHA as well as the direction given by the Apex Court will be fully carried out by the State of UP.
The bench has granted two weeks time to file a status report on this issue.
Case Details:
Case Title: Dileep Kumar Mishra v. Union of India & Ors.
Case No.: PIL No. 8058/2020
Quorum: Justice Anil Kumar and Justice Saurabh Lavania
Appearance: Petitioner in person; Assistant Solicitor General SB Pandey assisted by Advocates Varun Pandey and HP Srivastava
Read Order