Bombay High Court: R.K. Deshpande, J. while addressing the issue with regard to migrant workers/labourers and slum dwellers and homeless persons, expressed that,
“if migrant workers are permitted to travel to their places or destinations/homes within the State, it would ease out the burden on administration.”
Additional Solicitor General, Anil Singh informed the Court that the Supreme Court is seized of the above stated issue of Inter-State as well as Intra-State migrant workers and the same has been listed before 20-04-2020.
Amongst the suggestions, another one placed in respect of the Intra-State workers to the Advocate General was that,
“…before permitting the Intra-State migrants to travel to their destinations or homes, medical examinations should be conducted so that the dreaded disease is not spread in the rural areas, which presently remains unaffected.”
Advocate General assured the Court that all the above stated aspects shall be taken into consideration by the State Level Committee.
Complaints of migrant workers who are stranded at a particular place with regard to non-availability of water, sanitation, food and shelter shall also be entertained by the Taluka Level Committee.
Bench stated that,
Inter-State migration of the workers and the labourers is the issue which is to be tackled by the Central Government in consultation with the State Government and this is what is made known through the address by the Prime Minister of India to the nation. Supreme Court is also dealing with same.
Thus, in view of the above, High Court stated that it is a matter being dealt with by the Executive and this Court is confident that the issues shall be more appropriately addressed by the constituted Committees.
Hence the matters be put up in the first week of May, 2020. [Sarva Hara Jan Andolan v. State of Maharashtra, PIL ST No. 5443 of 2020, decided on 15-04-2020]