The Solicitor General of India, Mr Tushar Mehta has informed during the hearing of Suo Motu Petition for Migrant Labourers in Supreme Court that “No deaths have taken place due to non-supply of water, food or medicine”.
SG assures the Court that the entire country is working in tandem. SG has also requested the Supreme Court bench of three-Judge Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice M.R. Shah not to issue new norms on quarantine for asymptomatic patients and let the present system continue.
“Also, lets focus on getting all migrants back”, SG said.
Mr. P.S Narsimha Rao appearing for the State of U.P has supported the Solicitor General by saying that a lot of submissions that have been made today are not what is really happening on the ground.
During the course of hearing, the Solicitor General has taken the bench to the statistical data, wherein he says that we are in touch with the state governments.The letter was sent to chief secretaries asking how many workers still had to be shifted and how many trains were required for that. He further says that they have on record a chart which shows How many workers yet to be shifted and how many trains are required for the said purpose.
“Now only state govt can tell this court how many migrants yet to be shifted and how many trains will be required”, said the SG. Later, SG has provided the details of how many trains required by which state. States have prepared a chart as they were in a best position to do so.
Mr Mehta confidently has said to the bench that “In accordance with the guidelines, the Indian railways has till 3rd of June operated 4228 trains. Approx 1 crore migrants have reached their destination. By road 41 lakh transported and by train 57 lakh. We deployed 4,270 Shramik trains for transportation of labourers”.
On previous date of hearing, Mr. Mehta had submitted before the Court that the Government will not stop efforts or trains till even a single migrant remain. We started Shramik special trains. Because of some unfortunate incidents what’s actually happened has not been placed in public domain. Between, 1st to 27th May, 3700 special trains for migrants operating. 50 lakh migrants already shifted. The Centre and all State governments working fully in cooperation. Some misery some problems are arisen. Total shifting is 1.85 lakh migrants per day through average train journey of 187 trains.