The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday directed the Haryana Government to immediately examine and provide food, shelter and necessary assistance to the eligible migrant labour or persons who approach the Nodal Officers personally or on the helpline numbers pursuant to the government schemes, if they have not done so already or if some persons have been deprived of the relief.
Acting upon a PIL the division bench of Chief Justice Rajiv Shnakar Jha & Justice Arun Palli, observed that the petition filed on behalf of Indian Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU) cannot be entertained as IFTU has no juristic status nor is a legal entity thus dismissed the petition but the questions raised were of public importance. Hence, the bench agreed to hear the issue Suo Moto raised in petition.
The petitioner IFTU prayed before the Court that as per the directions of the Government of India and the consequent orders issued by the State of Haryana, the State Government is required to provide food, shelter and monetary reliefs to the migrant labour. But, inspite of repeated representations, the authorities have not mitigated the grievances of 4314 migrant labour, which are illiterate.
The State Government in reply said that they are bound to provide necessary assistance in these difficult times to any person in need who approaches them and they would take immediate necessary steps to provide the necessary assistance in accordance with the Government scheme to the persons who are eligible for the same. The Additional Advocate General said that the response given by the State of Haryana indicates that adequate necessary effective steps have already been taken by the State Government to provide necessary help to the eligible persons.
The High Court while disposing the plea, directed the state government to immediately examine and provide food, shelter as also the necessary assistance to the eligible migrant labour or persons who approach the Nodal Officers personally or on the helpline numbers pursuant to the government schemes, if they have not done so already or if some persons have been deprived of the relief.
-India Legal Bureau