Randeep Surjewala to intervene in suo motu case, seeks Apex Court Permission.
(Judicial Quest News Network)
Former MLA from Haryana and national INC member Randeep Surjewala has moved a plea to intervene in the sou moto case registered by the Supreme Court last night over the migrant crisis following the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown.
The Applicant states that by way of the present Application, the Applicant seeks to intervene and apprise this Hon’ble Court of certain pertinent measures that may be considered by the Government of India in order to alleviate the plight of the stranded migrant labourers, who are presently stranded or travelling long distances with great difficulty due to the nation-wide lockdown.
The primary issues raised in IA contends that the Parliament of India has not been able to conduct any session since March 2020,as a result of which the Applicant and his party, Congress, have been unable to raise issues with respect to sufferings of the migrant labourers.
He furthers submits that there has been abject failure on behalf of the Government of India in formulating a joint committee to address the miseries afflicting the migrant labourers, the measures suggested by Applicant or anyone not belonging to the ruling dispensation, have not been considered.
Surjewala has submitted that he has several suggestions that may aid the Court in taking steps to alleviate the distress faced by migrant labourers across the country.follwing are the some points he has submitted in his IA
1. In view of the facts that, at present there is no nation-wide action plan qua the stranded migrant labourers, to identity and accurately tally the total number of migrant labourers who continue to be stranded, the Government of India needs to carry out an exercise at the District and Village level to prepare these lists immediately.
2. Furthermore, it is suggested that the Government of India may immediately set up reception centres and facilitation centres at District and Village level for receiving labourers and facilitating further travel of the labourers to their native districts/villages.
3. On the basis of information being provided by the labourers, qua the hardship faced and the facilities/actions that helped them during their journey, the Government of India may formulate a nation – wide action plan to address the issues of stranded migrants.
4. In view of the fact that stranded migrant labourers have sporadic access to food, medicine and shelter, and are presently dependent on largesse of private individuals for the same, the Government of India should immediately.
5. Formulate a scheme to provide adequate food, medicine and shelter to the stranded migrant labourers.
6. In view of the fact that certain financial reliefs qua the migrant labourers have already been announced by the Government of India, therefore the said reliefs should be implemented on an urgent and immediate basis and a public announcement detailing the reliefs with timelines and step-wise procedure of release should be shared with the public and migrants.
7. In view of the fact that the stranded migrants have been uprooted from places of gainful employment, the Government of India should formulate urgent and immediate schemes for providing gainful employment to the migrant labourers, with additional and specific schemes, which take into consideration the education of the migrant labourers’ children and the general wellbeing of their family members.
8. In view of the fact that the migrants are presently stranded without proper means to approach the Government authorities, the Government of India should immediately launch awareness campaigns for migrant workers to explain all benefits (through radio and other communication modes) being provided by the Government to alleviate their plight and struggles during the nation- wide lockdown.
This Intervention Application is drawn by Advocates Mohammed Ali khan and Varun Chopra, settled by Senior Advocate Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi and filed by Advocate Sunil fernandes
[Read the Application]
