Migrant crisis a human tragedy, says Madras HC

‘Give report on migrant deaths’

The Madras high court has expressed anguish over the pathetic condition of the migrant workers for the past one month and the failure of the governments to provide even the basic amenities such as food and shelter to them during Covid-19 period.

A division bench of Justice N. Kirubakaran and Justice R. Hemalatha made these observations while passing an interim order on a habeas corpus petition from advocate Suryaprakasam seeking a direction to produce over 400 migrants who have allegedly been illegally detained by the Sangli police in Maharashtra.

The bench said, “One cannot control his/her tears after seeing the pathetic condition of migrant labourers shown in the media. It is nothing but a human tragedy. When the lockdown was announced, lakhs and lakhs of migrant workers were stranded throughout the country. It is very

One cannot control his/her tears after seeing the pathetic condition of migrant labourers shown in the media for the past one month. It is nothing but a human tragedy — Madras HC bench

unfortunate that those persons were neglected by all the authorities. The heart breaking stories are reported in the print as well as visual media.” The Madras high court also said it is not only the duty of the native states of migrants but also the duty of the states where they work to take care of them, but this was not the case. The court, while observing that the migrant workers are a neglected lot, asked the Central and state governments to file a report on the number of migrant labourers who have died on the way to their native states.