New Delhi:Activists Harsh Mander and Anjali Bharadwaj have moved to the Supreme Court seeking directions to the government for payment of wages to all the workers irrespective of whether they are formal, informal or self-employed.
The petition was mentioned by Advocate Prashant Bhushan over the telephone today before Justice L Nageswara Rao.
Meanwhile, the apex court has agreed to hear the plea whenever it sits next.
The petitioners contend that under the Disaster Management Act, the central and the state government have to prepare a detailed plan to deal with the effects of the disaster including taking steps for the victims who are either affected directly or indirectly.
Therefore, it is necessary to ensure payment to the workers who are the victims of the lockdown due to the pandemic. They said that the government is discriminating its citizens who are affected by the same disaster.
Citing the inaction by the government, the petitioners claim that, the government is violating the norms of Article 21 which guarantees the right to life. It is unable to protect the citizens who are forced into moving back to their villages.
They have prayed to activate the National and State advisory committees of experts in the field of disaster management and public health to prepare national and state disaster management plans for dealing with the COVID-19.
Also Read: Coronavirus and the plight of the poor in India
