Allot emergency seats in trains for all migrants: Telangana High Court

Hyderabad: The High Court CJ Bench directed the SCR and State Government to make transport facility by allotting emergency seats in trains to all the migrant workers from Secunderabad to Patna by Wednesday and Thursday.

The Bench of Chief Justice Raghavendra Singh Chauhan and Justice Bollam Vijaysen Reddy on Tuesday heard a tag of three public interest litigations regarding the stranded migrant workers in Telangana.

The South Central Railway DRM Anand Bhatia informed the Bench that till June 30, all the trains have been reserved. 'We cannot allocate special bogies to the trains, moreover, it is impossible for SCR to provide special trains to the migrant workers who are stranded in Telangana', Bhatia said.

Chief Justice Raghavendra Singh Chauhan said it is the duty of the government to look after its citizens, especially in this dire situation of the Covid-19 pandemic, to make transport facility to the stranded migrants in the State. The South Central Railway GM is having the power to authorise special coach to existing trains, CJ expressed deep anguish and said in this critical situation why railways are so hypothetical, why SCR GM is not coming forward to arrange special bogies to the trains to transport migrant workers to their native states, CJ added.

'For marriage parties and on special occasions the Railway department will arrange special coaches to the trains, I myself travelled so many times in special bogies, Why can't you arrange one special bogie to migrant workers who are stranded in Telangana to go to their native States', CJ Chauhan asked.

CJ asked SCR DRM Bhatia that how many coaches are there from Secunderabad to Patna. DRM Anand Bhatia informed the bench that only one train with 24 coaches. Petitioner Vasudha Nagraj informed the Bench that till Tuesday there are 53 migrant workers from Bihar State in Telangana who wish to go to their native State.

CJ Chauhan asked DRM Bhatia that is there any emergency quota available in the Bihar Special Train, DRM replied that in emergency quota can allot 34 seats. 'Then allot to the migrant workers who are stranded in Telangana', CJ Chauhan directed SCR DRM.

CJ Bench directed the State Government and SCR to coordinate between themselves regarding the migrant workers of Bihar who are stranded in Telangana who will be transported to their State over the next two days.

Petitioner Vasudha Nagaraj informed the Bench that in the Bihar special train if berths are not possible, Railways may provide at least seats to the migrant workers to go to their native place. CJ said It is a long-distance journey, let the migrants travel comfortably to their state and they will remember the courtesy of Telangana Government which they have been provided. For further hearing, the matter has been adjourned to June 26.