Migrant worker crisis: Finally Supreme Court takes note; flags “lapses” by government

Migrant workers struck by hunger, travel restrictions and heat as they struggle to go back home, finally managed to draw empathy from the Supreme Court, as it took suo-moto cognizance of the issue on the 63rd day of the lockdown. The SC has noted that while measures have been taken by the Centre and State Govts, there have been “inadequacies and certain lapses”.

The apex court's order notes that the crisis is a continuing one, with even today a large number of workers being stranded on roads, railway station and state borders.

This comes as a divergence from the order by Chief Justice of India Justice SA Bobde led the bench in a PIL on March 31. In that order, the SC had recorded the submission of the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Govt, that as of 11.00 am of March 31, migrant workers were no longer on the road. The same order also recorded submissions by the govt that migrant workers had been shipped off to shelter homes and were provided for with respect to food, water and shelter. At the time, SC had noted that it was “satisfied” with the government's measures.