All lockdown cases against migrants to be withdrawn by Delhi Police

NEW DELHI: All cases registered against migrant workers for violating Covid-19 norms during the lockdown period will be withdrawn by Delhi Police, a move that has been approved by lieutenant governor V K Saxena. While 43 cases had been registered, 18 cases had been disposed of and chargesheets been filed in 15 others.
When the Covid outbreak hit the city leading to the sudden lockdown, the migrant workforce, most of them labourers and casual workers, were left uncertain when construction activities were halted and the other jobs they were engaged in too ceased.

With no earning possible, the anxiety-ridden people left in droves for their homes. Some walked lengthy distances because public transport was unavailable, some cycled, some arranged private travel at exorbitant rates. But all of them were on the streets finding ways to leave Delhi in violation of the Covid norms in place then.
Seeing the daily exodus, Delhi government arranged to provide food and accommodation for migrant workers and later made provisions for bus travel for them. The central government too resumed train services to enable the beleaguered migrant force to reach their home states.
Taking a humane and reasoned view that these violations were essentially petty in nature and committed by poor migrants in a situation of extreme distress caused by the pandemic, the LG said that withdrawing the cases would save the migrants from unnecessary harassment related to court cases.
The decision to withdraw the cases and file a closure was taken in line with the Supreme Court’s judgment of June 9. The LG concurred keeping in view the livelihoods lost due to the lockdown and existential needs of the outstation labour force residing in Delhi.
Forty-three cases were registered against migrant workers under Section 51 (non-compliance with government directives) and Section 188 (Disobeying order promulgated by public servant) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 for violating measures of the lockdown by moving about on the roads. Of these cases, 18 have been disposed of by the respective courts. In 15 cases, where chargesheets have been filed, the LG has ordered the withdrawal of prosecution by the Directorate of Prosecution under Section (321) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. In the remaining 10 cases filed against 100 migrants in which chargesheets are yet to be filed (7) or the accused are untraced (3), the LG has instructed Delhi Police to file for closure.
The LG has also approved the withdrawal of 15 cases registered by the Directorate of Prosecution for contravening the lockdown regulations.