SC pulls up Maharashtra govt for claiming everything fine on migrant workers' issue

The Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up the Maharashtra government for filing a vague affidavit in the suo motu case pertaining to the plight of migrant workers during the coronavirus-induced lockdown, Live Law reported. A bench, headed by Justices Ashok Bhushan, SK Kaul and MR Shah, said the Maharashtra government must file a detailed affidavit apprising the court of the real problems migrants face.

Hundreds of thousands of migrant labourers began journeys home on foot in March, after the Centre imposed a countrywide lockdown to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Some died on the way due to illness.

“Not an adversarial litigation. Duty of state to highlight and act on lapses,” the bench said. “State of Maharashtra to file an affidavit regarding details of migrants awaiting to return to state of Maharashtra by next week.” The bench told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Maharashtra government, to “better advise” the state in filing the affidavit.