South Asia Citizens Web

The CORONA virus Pandemic is a huge global challenge and needs to be dealt with in all seriousness. While some amount of restriction of the rights and liberties to the extent to which it is reasonable and necessary may well be justified and would be Constitutionally permissible, but not in a manner that is disproportionate to what is actually required.

We, the undersigned representatives of this network of organisations working with migrant workers, in this memorandum would like to bring to your kind attention the severity with which this population has been affected by the lockdowns imposed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The lockdown, while necessary in curbing the infectious disease, has exponentially affected the migrant worker’s movement across states, access to water, food, healthcare, shelter and work.

A section of the press has reported that the Government is seriously considering amendment of the Factories Act,1948 to allow 72 hours of work per 6-day week (12 hours working day), in place of the existing limit of 48 hours (eight hours working day). The move is being justified as "exceptional circumstances call for exceptional provisions".

As I prepare to Ieave to surrender before the NIA headquarters in Delhi I am glad that Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Indira Banerjee gave me another week of freedom when they passed the order on April 8, 2020. A week of freedom means a lot in my condition, even in the age of lockdown.

Everywhere the same question: Who will rule Russia? If a triumvirate, can it long endure or does the Soviet structure demand a single head? Will there be orderly elimination or violence? If violence, is there a man in Russia able to use war on his colleagues, win and consolidate supreme power, and, through it all, hold together the Union and the Empire?