State Govt. should take measures to bring home the labourers lurching on the roads and railway tracks ! – Supreme Court

New Delhi – How do you take care of those who stroll on the roads ? The Supreme Court has dismissed a PIL seeking directions to facilitate migrant labourers walking on foot to return to their native places. SC said that the State Governments should take necessary steps to look into the convenience of labourers and bring them home. A few days ago, 16 labourers were killed in a train accident in Aurangabad. The petition was filed by Advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava. The hearing was conducted through video conferencing.

1. In this petition, the petitioners had demanded that the Supreme Court order the Central Government to arrange for the food and drinks for the labourers who are walking home.
2. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta represented the Central Government on this and said that the Centre and State Governments have already made adequate arrangements for shelter and transport of migrant workers. Even then, people are going on foot. This cannot be prevented by force.
3.  After hearing both sides, the Court said that the petition is based on a newspaper article. How will the Court prevent people from walking on the road and sleeping on railway tracks ? State Governments need to take cognisance of this.