Published 13:46 IST, April 7th 2020
'Supreme Court can't take better policy decisions than Govt at this stage': CJI SA Bobde
Supreme Court of India refused to pass any directions to the government on the Public Interest Litigation petition filed by Advocate Prashant Bhushan amid Covid
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Supreme Court of India on Tuesday refused to pass any directions to government on Public Interest Litigation petition filed by vocate Prashant Bhushan and activists Harsh Mander & Anjali Bharwaj seeking payment of minimum ws to migrant daily-w workers during 21-day lockdown period imposed by government during COVID-19 outbreak.
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SC refuses to take a decision
A bench of Chief Justice of India SA Bobde, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Deepak Gupta stated that Supreme Court cant take a better policy decision than government at this st and refore will t be inclined to interfere in any government decisions for next few weeks. Prashant Bhushan, arguing for petitioners told bench that more than 4 lakh persons are being kept in shelter homes currently and this is when almost 40% of workers did t even choose to migrate back to ir home states. “Many of se people need money to send back home to ir families living in vills,” Bhushan told Supreme Court.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who was also a part of hearing representing Ministry of Home Affairs stated that MHA was looking into all complaints being received by it from migrant workers. “A helpline has been set up which is monitoring complaints on a daily basis” Mehta told Supreme Court. Chief Justice of India expressed inability of Supreme Court to delve into finer aspects of welfare of migrant workers stating that Supreme Court cant look into what kind of food was being provided to migrant workers. CJI also stated “we don’t plan to surpass wisdom of government with our own wisdom”.
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A report was also submitted by Centre before Supreme Court giving details of steps being taken by MHA to tackle concerns of migrant workers and managing ir well-being. Supreme Court asked Prashant Bhushan, along with or petitioners to go through report submitted by Centre and journed hearing on issue until next week even as Bhushan objected stating that “many people would die” by n. hearing will w take place on Monday.
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13:46 IST, April 7th 2020