J&K HC Directs UT Administration To Ensure Welfare Of Migrant Workers & Contract Labourers

Taking stock of the deplorable conditions that a large number of migrant and contract workers are living under, the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir on Thursday directed the Divisional Commissioners of Jammu & Srinagar to submit a report to the tune of their conditions.

In a well reasoned and detailed order, a bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal & Justice Rajnesh Oswal took note of the plight of migrant workers, contract labourers as well as stranded visitors in religious places and tourist spots in the valley and acknowledged their issues which have come to light in of lockdown amid the Coronavirus outbreak.

"We are informed that these people have been given temporary shelters in mosques etc without any formal plan for their transportation back to their homes or places of their origin.It is also submitted that these persons are living in deplorable conditions and their essential needs are not being met" the bench noted.

In this backdrop, inter alia, the court issued directions to the concerned administrative authorities and observed that the Court must be kept abreast of  their location and measures being taken thereof to ensure that their needs are being met.

"Let the Member Secretary, JKSLSA collaborate with the authorities to supplement the steps underway in this regard" - the order read.

In this backdrop, the court in suo moto petition(s) encompassing various issues such as availibility of safety equipment to healthcare professional, plight of migrant workers, issues of safety and violence against healthcare workers and lack of internet facilities in the UT of Jammu & Kashmir & Ladakh passed several directions.