MORE THAN 800 TRAINS TRANSPORTED AROUND 10 LAC MIGRANT WORKERS TO THEIR NATIVE PLACES: HC TOLD
The Delhi Government has informed the Delhi HC On Friday that it is taking all the necessary steps with care for the migration of labourers to their native homes in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedure issued by the Supreme Court of India by its letter dated 29th April, 2020.
The Court noted that the Delhi Government is ready and willing to accept the registration of the workers who want to migrate and whose name is given in the memo of the writ Petition. As and when these workers will approach the concerned Nodal Officer, all care will be taken by it for their migration.
The Court was also informed by Counsel appearing for the Ministry of Railways that when they will receive any request from any State, they are ready to provide necessary trains. And further submitted that more than 800 trains have already departed, taking around 10 lac migrant workers to their native places.
The Court was hearing the PIL through video conferencing, which raised grievances related to the official website of the Government meant for registration of migrant workers for transit to their native place and the helpline numbers provided in this regard, which were not working properly and also the need of appointment of Nodal Officers in each district of Delhi for the same.
Learned Counsel for GNCTD informed the Court that Mr. P.K. Gupta, Principal Secretary, Social Welfare Department, Government of NCT of Delhi has been appointed as State Nodal Officers and all the District Magistrate in Delhi are the Nodal Officers of their respective districts. Their name and contact details have been given on the website of the Government of Delhi. Moreover, at all the relief Centres where the migrant workers are staying, the names of Nodal Officers and contact details have been displayed.
In view of the submissions made the Delhi Government the Delhi HC directed that the Nodal Officers shall remain easily available to the migrant workers so that after the online registration the follow up action in accordance with the SOP for their movement to the native place be taken.
The Delhi Government further submitted that, they have no objection regarding any prayer in the writ Petition. On the Contrary, they are looking in the difficulties facing by public at large and take all the necessary actions to send the migrant workers to their native places.
The Courts direction came on a PIL filed by “National Campaign Committee for Eradication of Bonded Labour” repatriate the migrant workers and to appoint nodal officers in each district who would facilitate the registration process.
By Shubhi Singhal of Law College Dehradun
