Migrant workers: #SupremeCourt begins hearing petition by Harsh Mander and Anjali Bhardwaj concerning payment of wages to migrant workers amid lockdown due to #Covid_19.

Matter is taken up for hearing via video conferencing.

#migrantworkers
@harsh_mander
@AnjaliB_

Advocate Prashant Bhushan tells the Court that lakhs of migrant workers are placed in shelter homes and this will make #SocialDistancing difficult; adds that if one person contracts the virus, it puts everyone in the shelter home at risk.

"They should be allowed to go home"

Bhushan says wages should be released because the migrant workers rely on wages for their meals.

CJI SA Bobde asks why wages are required when meals are being provided by the govt.

Bhushan points out meals given in shelter homes; not all migrant workers are in shelters

Bhushan adds that workers also need money to send it back home to their families that rely on this money.

SG Tushar Mehta says that the government is on top of the situation and looking into all the complaints received; the helpline set up is being monitored constantly

CJI Bobde asks how can it be said that the government is not doing much without looking at the status report filed by the Centre.

Bhushan says the orders passed by the govt concern provision of food in shelters and landlords not charging rent; says they are unimplementable.

CJI Bobde says Court not inclined to interfere with the Government's decisions for the coming few days; says Court cannot take a getter policy decision at this stage.

#SupremeCourt

Supreme Court to hear the matter again on Monday, April 13.

Prashant Bhushan given time till then to peruse the status report filed by the Centre on the issue of migrant workers.

#SupremeCourt
#migrantworkers
#Lockdown21
#Covid_19