HC directs Delhi government to ensure uninterrupted working of helpline numbers for migrants

Delhi High Court has directed AAP government to ensure uninterrupted working of ir helpline numbers for migrant workers so that y can approach dal officers who shall be easily available to labourers.

A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar, which conducted hearing through video conferencing, ted that Delhi government is rey and willing to accept registration of workers who want to migrate.

bench ted in its order that as and when se workers will approach concerned dal officer, all care will be taken by state government for ir migration in accordance with law and standard operating procedure (SOP) issued by Centre on April 29.

"So far, as restoration of helpline number is concerned, we direct respondent .1 (Delhi government) to ensure uninterrupted working of ir helpline number so that people may approach dal officers through helpline numbers. very purpose of helpline number is to help people and, refore, same must be functional," bench said, in its order passed on Friday and me available on Saturday late evening.

"We also expect from respondent .1 (Delhi government) that dal officers shall remain easily available to migrant workers so that after online registration follow-up action in accordance with SOP for ir movement to native places be taken," it ded.

court's order came on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking direction to authorities to register and repatriate migrant workers to ir native places and also to appoint a dal officer in each district who would facilitate entire process.

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Petitioner NGO National Campaign Committee for Erication of Bonded Labour claimed that official website of government meant for registration of migrant workers for transit to ir respective native places and helpline numbers provided in this regard were t working properly.

Central government standing counsel Anurag Ahluwalia submitted that Centre has issued an order on April 29, detailing SOP regarding movement of stranded migrant workers.

He said detailed instructions have been issued to all states and UT Delhi, and procedure for appointment of dal officers and standard protocol required to be followed have also been mentioned in that order.

Delhi government's counsel Rishikesh told court that Principal Secretary of Social Welfare Department P K Gupta has been appointed state dal officer and all district magistrates in Delhi are dal officers of ir respective districts and ir names and contact details have been given on Delhi government's website.

Railways counsel Jagjit Singh said as and when requests will be received from any state, y are rey to provide necessary trains and till w more than 800 trains have alrey departed, taking around 10 lakh migrant workers to ir native places.

Delhi government's vocate also said y are alrey looking into difficulties being faced by public at large and all possible actions are being taken by m to send migrant workers to ir native places.

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