HC asks J&K, Ladakh to take care of stranded migrant labourers

Ishfaq Tantry
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, March 30

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court asked UT administrations of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh to address the needs of migrant workers, as an exodus of migrant workers to their own native states was sparking fears of further spread of the deadly coronavirus.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Sindhu Sharma, which was hearing a Public Interest Litigation through a video conference, directed J&K and Ladakh to ensure that “accommodation, healthcare and the needs of the migrant labourers, if not already provided for, are addressed”.

The court also asked J&K administration for a report on the status of a high-powered committee that has been considering a proposal to release prisoners from jail in an effort to avoid the contagion.

 “The Home Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir is directed to file an interim report regarding the functioning of the High Powered Committee constituted for the examination of the prisoners required to be released from prisons,” a Division Bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Sindhu Sharma, which was hearing a Public Interest Litigation through a video conference.

The high court also directed J&K authorities to ensure that around 400 pilgrims from Bihar stranded at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine are taken care of appropriately during the nationwide lockdown.

 The Bench asked authorities to ensure that the pilgrims are not asked to vacate hotels and are provided with adequate facilities during the lockdown.

The court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation.

In the 11-page order issued after the hearing, the judges took note of amicus curiae Monika Kohli's contention that the sudden lockdown had left about the pilgrims stranded at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Katra.

Kohli also submitted that these pilgrims are being asked to leave their current lodgings and that immediate steps need to be taken in view of current lockdown in the Union Territory.

The order said that a direction is issued to the Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, and the Deputy Commissioner, Reasi to ensure that these pilgrims are not asked to vacate their current lodgings and their needs are fully provided for till such time as the lockdown persists.

"All notifications/directions issued by the Central Government and the Government of the UT of JK to ensure that there is no dislodging of people from their habitations and also provisions or facilities, are strictly complied with," the order said.

The development comes in the middle of a lockdown in the country. Coronavirus cases in the country hav spiralled to over 1,000 with some 27 deaths. The rising number of cases prompted authorities, both central and various state governments, to order an immediate lockdown in an attempt to stem the surge.

Globally, the pandemic has caused 30,000 deaths from over 6,00,000 infections, wrecking economies and bringing all other world activities to a complete halt.

The lockdown in India meanwhile led to complete halt in all transportation except for that of emergency and essential services. It also sparked an unprecedented exodus of migrants, who, after having lost their livelihood to the lockdown, frantically tried to make their way back to their home states. The exodus quickly raised fears of more spread of the virus, forcing the central government to step in and ask states to seal their borders.