MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government on Friday told the Bombay high court that currently, there is no demand from migrant workers to board the Shramik special trains to return to their home states.
Advocate general Ashutosh Kumbhakoni, along with advocate Akshay Shinde, with also told a bench of chief justice Dipankar Datta and justice Amjad Sayed that as and when there is a demand from migrant workers, the state government would arrange for their travel. The AG reportedly also said that the state has been liberal in its approach and people with "brand new Sony Bravia TV" and considerably wealthy are also allowed on the Shramik trains on "humanitarian grounds."
The state's affidavit said up to June 1, 2020 some 822 trains had departed carrying over 11.87 lakh migrant labourers to their home states.
The court heard, via videoconference, a public interest litigation by the Centre of Trade Unions (CITU) and two migrant workers, Shaikh Islam and Sekh Lal Mohammad who had applied to return to their villages in West Bengal but there was no feedback on the status of their applications. They continued to live in squalid conditions in a shelter shared by over eight persons.
Additional solicitor general Anil Singh, for the Union government, also said whenever there is a demand from migrants workers , the railways will arrange the trains. The judges have posted the next hearing on July 9.
Advocate general Ashutosh Kumbhakoni, along with advocate Akshay Shinde, with also told a bench of chief justice Dipankar Datta and justice Amjad Sayed that as and when there is a demand from migrant workers, the state government would arrange for their travel. The AG reportedly also said that the state has been liberal in its approach and people with "brand new Sony Bravia TV" and considerably wealthy are also allowed on the Shramik trains on "humanitarian grounds."
The state's affidavit said up to June 1, 2020 some 822 trains had departed carrying over 11.87 lakh migrant labourers to their home states.
The court heard, via videoconference, a public interest litigation by the Centre of Trade Unions (CITU) and two migrant workers, Shaikh Islam and Sekh Lal Mohammad who had applied to return to their villages in West Bengal but there was no feedback on the status of their applications. They continued to live in squalid conditions in a shelter shared by over eight persons.
Additional solicitor general Anil Singh, for the Union government, also said whenever there is a demand from migrants workers , the railways will arrange the trains. The judges have posted the next hearing on July 9.
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