National Lockdown: Kerala HC Directs District Labour Officers & Legal Services Authorities To Monitor Conditions Of Migrant Labours In The State Till April 17 [Read Order]

In a suo moto case, the bench of Justices AK Jayasankaran Nambiar and Shaji P. Chaly had earlier sought a report from the Advocate General concerning the steps taken by the State of Kerala to provide food and shelter to the migrant workers.

On a perusal of the same yesterday, the bench ordered strict compliance of the Supreme Court directions in Alakh Alok Srivastava v. Union of India to ensure accessibility of basic necessities & medical facilities for migrant workers in view of the nationwide lockdown.

During the course of hearing, the bench was informed that it was desirable to monitor state action wrt to these migrant workers who were not able to leave for their homes outside the State, pursuant to the outbreak of the COVID 19 virus pandemic.

In this regard, Amicus Curiae Parvathi Menon had submitted "while it cannot be denied that the State Government has taken significant measures to ameliorate the hardship faced by the said migrant workers, it would be desirable that the continued efforts of the State Government are monitored at the District level and by this Court so as to ensure that the assurances given by the State Government before this Court actually materialize on the ground."

Thus, the High Court directed all District Labour Officers being the Nodal officers, in co-ordination with the respective Taluk Legal Services Authorities to "monitor the effective implementation of the steps taken by the State Government in providing food, shelter and other essential commodities and services to the migrant workers in the State, during the lockdown period."

It clarified that thee directions will remain in force till April 17, subject to any urgent orders being required to safeguard the rights of the migrant workers.

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