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Trade unions move Karnataka high court to oppose halting of migrant trains

The plea stated that labourers were facing emotional trauma and their mental health has been declining.

Just hours after the Karnataka government decided to stop all special trains to ferry stranded labourers to their respective states, the All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) on Wednesday moved the Karnataka High Court challenging the move.

The plea stated that labourers were facing emotional trauma and their mental health has been declining, Bar and Bench, a legal website, noted.

The plea argued that the state government's decision violated Article 19(1) and Article 14 of the Indian Constitution.

"Denial of free and safe transport to their villages and home States is an affront to the right to life of migrant workers and severely erodes human dignity," the plea read.

In a bid to retain over two lakh migrant laborers, Karnataka government had written to Railways Department to stop all the trains from Bengaluru.

According to reports, N Manjunath Prasad, the nodal officer for Karnataka's inter-state travel, wrote to the Indian Railways stating that the special trains would not be required from Wednesday (May 6).

Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa had said that the government had convinced the laborers to return to their work places, as government was allowing construction and industrial activities.

"During a high level meeting in last two days, the employers have agreed to pay full salary and provide them food also. There is an urgent need to resume economic activities," the Chief Minister stated.

( Source : deccan chronicle )
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