Supreme Court dismisses plea seeking food, water to migrants on move

New Delhi: Dismissing a petition that asked that the Centre be ordered to provide food and water to migrants on the move, the Supreme Court said : "It is impossible for this court to monitor who is walking and not walking.

"The Supreme Court also said sternly: "Let the state decide. Why should the court hear or decide?

"The petition filed by lawyer Alakh Alok Srivastava urged that the court ask the Centre to identify migrants walking on the roads and provide them food and shelter.The lawyer had also referred to a recent incident in Maharastra, where 16 migrants sleeping on railway tracks were run over by a cargo train.It is for the states to decide, said the Supreme Court.

"There are people walking and not stopping. How can we stop it?" the judges said.

On the train accident, the court said: "How can anyone stop this when they sleep on railway tracks?"The court berated the advocate, saying his petition was "totally based" on newspaper clippings. A child sleeps on a suitcase as his mother pulls it on a highway in Agra in Uttar Pradesh"Every advocate read incidents in the paper and become knowledgeable about every subject.

Your knowledge is totally based on newspaper clippings and then you want this court to decide. Let the state decide. Why should this court decide or hear? We will give you special pass. Can you go and implement government orders?" the court said, dismissing the petition.