SC dismisses petition asking the Centre for food, water and shelter to migrants walking on highways

The petition filed by lawyer Alakh Alok Srivastava requested the court to ask the Centre to identify the migrants walking on the roads and supply them with food, water and shelter during their strenuous journey.

"Let the state decide. Why should the court hear or decide?" the Supreme Court stated sternly, according to an NDTV report.

"There are people walking and not stopping. How can we stop it?" the judges said, the report stated.

In his petition the lawyer had also mentioned the recent incident in which 16 migrant workers had fallen asleep on railway tracks and were mowed down by a cargo train.

On the train accident, the court said: "How can anyone stop this when they sleep on railway tracks?"

Dismissing the petition, the court said it was totally based on newspaper clippings.

"Every advocate read incidents in the paper and become knowledgeable about every subject. Your knowledge is totally based on newspaper clippings and then you want this court to decide. Let the state decide. Why should this court decide or hear? We will give you special pass. Can you go and implement government orders?" the court said, rebuking the petitioner.

Representing the Central government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the government has already started making arrangements for the travel of migrant labourers, and everyone must wait for his turn, adding that the journey dates are sheduled according to the agreement between the states.

"If someone doesn't want to wait for his turn…Subject to the agreement between states, everybody will get a chance to travel. Using force on them can be counter-productive," Mr Mehta said, referring to those still walking on the highway, said the report.

(Photos: UNI)