Supreme Court Hearing On Migrant Issue: Live-Updates

Bench: "How do you ensure that nobody asks them to pay or troubles them? What we are saying is that the #migrants should be least concerned with means of payment"

SG: "Let the states file their respective reports so that the bench can get the larger picture"

Bench: What about states which reimburse? How is the migrant supposed to get reimbursement? Migrant won't know which state has to pay or what transport is even available. There needs to be a uniform policy, else it will create confusion.

Bench: Also, it’s not clear who will pay the fare. It’s creating a block. You still haven't informed who is paying for the ticket of #MigrantWorkers ?

SG: Either the sending state or receiving state. They have interstate agreements.

Bench: There have been instances where one state sends #migrants but at the border State, it says that we are not accepting migrants. We need a policy.

Bench: But then no state should have a right to reject [taking in #MigrantWorkers] that "no no don’t come OR we will not take you"

SG: There is no question about that. They are all citizens of India.

SG - I will gather that information and come back. The mechanism is working at state levels, so will have to get feedback from the states. I am not shifting responsibility. All states are working in tandem.

SG: "I have understood the query and maybe the state governments can file a report"

Bench: But what is the normal time? If a #migrant is identified, there must be some certainty that he will be shifted out within 1 week or 10 days at most? What is that time?

Bench: "What is the estimation of time that is required to shift the #migrants? What are the arrangements being made? What is the mechanism in place? Do the people know if they’ll be shifted on 5th day, 7th day or 10th day?"

Bench: They have already left their houses. So where is the food grain?

SG: Let me file my report and your Lordships will be fully satisfied.

SG: In many cases there is local level instigation which is encouraging people to start walking. Those who started walking, when the state found them, the bus goes to them immediately and takes them to the nearest railway station.