#Account lockdown advocate in Gujarat

[advocate-paresh-m-modi]

Cybercrime Lawyer in Gujarat | Cyber Crime Advocate in Gandhinagar Gujarat | Advocate Paresh M Modi

[rusykohli]

From The Bubonic Plague To COVID-19: Impact On The Legal Profession In India

https://www.barandbench.com/author/rusy-kohli

The COVID-19 Pandemic has fundamentally disrupted our social and economic order. It has affected the functioning of most institutions and the Indian Judiciary is no exception. The Guardian of Law now finds itself compelled to guard against this deadly virus, its fraternity and litigants alike. The declaration of lockdown in India was accompanied with Courts across the country restricting functioning to limited matters in order to curb the number of lawyers / litigants entering court complexes. Soon, all hearings were being conducted through videoconferencing only, in order to avoid any human contact whatsoever. However, just like previous health emergencies in India like the Bubonic Plague of the late 19th century and the Spanish Flu of 1918, Corona Virus has made many its victims including the Judiciary, and the legal profession.  In order to fully appreciate the impact of the virus, the author attempts to provide an account of the effect of Covid-19 with reference to historical health emergencies and their impact on the judicial apparatus.

 Pendency in Indian Courts:

 The Indian Judiciary has been over-burdened for several years and COVID-19 is only adding to this menace. As of May 27, 2020, there are approximately 3.24 crore pending cases in India’s subordinate courts[i] and about 48.2 lakh pending cases in the High Courts[ii].

 The Supreme Court via its Notification dated March 13, 2020 restricted functioning of the Court to “ urgent matters ” only ( w.e.f.  March 16, 2020 )[iii], thereby only entertaining bail matters, suspension of sentence matters and the like.

 High Courts too have restricted their functioning to urgent matters. In normal course, a High Court hears north of 400 matters a day. However, since late March, High Courts across the country are hearing anywhere between 10-100 matters a day.[iv]

 Subordinate courts account for over 80 % of the pendency of cases. On April 30, 2020 the Karnataka High Court extended the closure of all District Courts, Family Courts, Labour Courts and Industrial Tribunals in the State until May 16, 2020[v]. On April 29, 2020 the Punjab & Haryana High Court ordered that all the district and sub-divisional Courts in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh will function “restrictively” from May 1 “till the lockdown / curfew is in force in the respective area”[vi]. These restrictive measures have led to a glut of pending cases, thereby increasing the burden on courts.

 Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied:

 Pendency in India’s courts has always been a hindrance in securing timely justice for people, if not denying justice altogether. As the usual functioning of courts has been disrupted, many under-trials and even many of those whose appeals are pending are left with no recourse. It can hardly be denied that the subject adage has particular force in the criminal sphere.

 In pursuance of the Apex Court’s directions dated March 23, 2020, States and Union Territories have been asked to constitute High Powered Committees “ to determine which class of prisoners can be released on parole or an interim bail for such period as may be thought appropriate. ” Therefore, each State is free to determine its own criteria for granting bail. Further the Supreme Court has clarified vide its order dated April 13, 2020 that it has not directed the States / Union Territories “ to compulsorily release the prisoners from their respective prisons.”[vii] This clarification has allowed High Courts to further restrict the nature of cases in which they are prepared to grant bail.

 On March 29, 2020, the Insolvency And Bankruptcy Board Of India announced the insertion of regulation “ 40 C ”, which laid down that the period of lockdown imposed in the wake of COVID19 shall not be counted for the purposes of the time-line for any activity that could not be completed due to such lockdown, in relation to the corporate insolvency resolution process ( CIRP )[viii]. While this move has come as a relief for companies undergoing the CIRP, it has left creditors waiting for repayment of dues for longer than the mandated 330-day period. NCLT benches across the country are hearing only urgent matters until the lockdown is lifted. This has left many other matters, which do not qualify as urgent, pending. [ix]

 Plight Of Advocates:

 A PIL was filed in the Supreme Court urging that non-payment of rent for professional premises belonging to advocates should not be made a ground for eviction, during lockdown.  However, on April 30, 2020 the Apex Court refused to entertain the plea remarking that it was "not going to enter into this issue," and dismissed the petition as withdrawn. [x] Further on May 8, 2020 a three- Judge bench of the Supreme Court dismissed a plea urging the court to direct the government to formulate a uniform welfare scheme for lawyers affected across the country.[xi]

 Daily appearances in court are the main source of income for most advocates, and cash flow has come to a drip, if not completely dried up. In the month of April, 82,725 cases were filed in India’s courts as compared to 8,80,000 cases in March [xii]. This steep decline in cases filed has consequently resulted in a significant dip in court fee, besides Lawyers’ income.

 Younger lawyers are left with little or no work. Today, a senior lawyer has the time, and the need to address minor matters, if any, personally, rather than refer them to a junior, which may have been done prior to the lockdown.

 A petition was filed in the Madras High Court, seeking a direction to the State and the Bar Council to release Rs. 50,000/-  to advocates, in order to compensate for the loss of work[xiii]. However, the Bar Council Of Tamil Nadu & Puducherry has resolved to disburse only Rs. 4000/- each to needy lawyers. The Bar Council was not in a position to release any more money because of limited resources.[xiv]

 Law Firms:

 Law Firms have also been severely affected. Many partners have either chosen to renounce salaries this financial year or agreed to take significant pay cuts.  Firms which charged clients anywhere between Rs. 20,000 and Rs 75, 000 per hour, our now renegotiating their fee, since cash-strapped clients are no longer willing to pay exorbitant sums. Moreover, clients are questioning the actual amount of time that firms are spending on their matters, thereby making firms consider implementing technology that would track the number of hours spent by an executive on a client’s job, in order to provide proof to clients[xv]. This is great innovation; however, it comes with a significant cost in a day and age when law firms are suffering unprecedented lows in business.

 Prisoners:

 Corona Virus cases have already sprung up in various jails across India. Amongst other jails, there are over 180 cases in Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail[xvi]. Authorities have been compelled to take drastic measures such as - release a large number of inmates, shift inmates to different prisons and designate temporary places as jails for keeping new undertrials.

 By end February, nearly the cases (233 of 565) of COVID-19 reported in Wuhan, China, were from the city’s prison system.[xvii] This fact is reflective of just how dangerous prisons are today.

 Indian prisons have historically been overcrowded and may potentially become breeding grounds when threatened by a contagion like Covid19. Considering the difficult living conditions and lack of hygiene, which is an unfortunate reality of our prisons, containing the spread would become nearly impossible.

 Coping With This Challenge:

 We are now in the age of what has come to be known as “Virtual Courts ” which function through videoconferencing, e-filing, telephonic mentioning of urgent matters and online payment of court fees. These are not bereft of teething problems. Perhaps, the biggest drawback of this new system is the inability to provide public access to courtroom proceedings. Virtual proceedings are being held in camera, and are therefore not open to public which is discordant with what has been held in Naresh Shridhar Mirajkar v State of Maharashtra[xviii], where the Apex Court observed that the public has a right to be present in court and to watch proceedings.

 Lawyers are facing problems with basics such as uploading petitions on the Supreme Court website, since the data restrictions put in place are just 5 MB for a petition and 2 MB for additional documents, thereby compelling lawyers to break up the file into multiple volumes.[xix]

 Déjà Vu

 Historically, the Bubonic Plague of the late 19th century and Spanish Flu of 1918 are two points of reference when the entire framework of judiciary was disrupted on account of a health emergency.

 The arrival of the Bubonic Plague in Bombay ( now Mumbai ) in 1896, brought courts to a grinding halt. A J C Mistry, a managing clerk at the Bombay law firm, Wadia Ghandy & Co. has given a grim account of the situation in early 1897. Mistry noted that the judges of the Bombay High Court “had no work to do.” The staff of the firm returned to work after four months, however over the next decade three members fell victim to the plague and died.

Mahatma Gandhi on page 72 in his book -  The Law and The Lawyers[xx], while discussing an appeal which was to be heard in Veraval in Gujarat, writes that there were as many as fifty cases heard daily ( a lot of cases for that day and age ) in the Court at Veraval which had a population of about 5,500 people, however at the time of writing the “plague was raging ” and it was “ practically deserted ”. This anecdote bears a striking semblance to the scenario today.  

 Property which was seized in discharge of debts those days included pots, pans, utensils, bedding etc. These items were regularly hauled in and out of court. Legal historian Mitra Sharafi on page 48 in her book - Law and Identity in Colonial South Asia: Parsi Legal Culture, 1772–1947, writes that this practice of bringing property inside court rooms had become a “ particularly unsavoury phenomenon when the bubonic plague swept through the city. ”

 When the Spanish Flu arrived in 1918, the judiciary was hit once again. Jurors, lawyers and assistants of the Calcutta High Court were severely affected. The Court was functioning on somewhat similar lines of how the courts are functioning today, thereby causing consequent pendency issues. [xxi]

 Even in Bombay, law offices were bought to a standstill. In late June 1918 the Times Of India reported,

 “ Nearly every house in Bombay has some of its inmates down with [influenza] fever and every office is bewailing the absence of clerks. ”

 The flu soon found its way into jails and a need was felt to decongest prisons as inmates began to fall sick and the jails were short-staffed. The District Magistrate of Bijapur particularly wanted to release sick prisoners from jail, but the then Government was not ready to cooperate.[xxii]

 It may be relevant to mention here that an eminent lawyer by the name of, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was himself laid down with the Spanish flu with a faltering heartbeat. However, destiny had charted out a different path for him, and India.

 Conclusion:

This piece has only covered some of the ramifications of COVID-19 on the legal profession and there are other areas such as legal education which also need to be addressed on a priority. The existing delays in the legal system will only be exacerbated by the impediments COVID-19 will inevitably present to the progress of investigations, charging decisions, pre-trial processes etc. It appears that Corona Virus is here to stay, and the Judiciary needs to cope with it. We have been through a pandemic before and have come out of it as well. Normal functioning or rather “ New Normal ” functioning of courts is going to take its own time. Hopefully, it shouldn’t take too long, lest Lady Justice will soon have to, along with a blindfold, sword and scales, be adorned with — a mask.

 Rusy Kohli

The author is a Post Graduate from Punjab University and a keen student of current affairs with context to lessons from history.

 [i] “ Pending Dashboard ”: National Judicial Data Grid (District and Taluka Courts of India).

[ii] National Judicial Data Grid For High Courts.

[iii] Supreme Court Notification, March 13, 2020.

[iv] Data collected from Daily Cause Lists of various High Courts.

[v] Vide Notification No. DJA.I/550/1993, dated April 30, 2020.

[vi] Vide Order No. 13/Spl./RG/Misc. , dated April 29, 2020.

[vii] Suo Motu Writ Petition (Civil) No.1 Of 2020 ( In Re : Contagion Of Covid 19 Virus In Prisons ): Order dated April 13, 2020.

[viii] Vide Notification No. IBBI/2019-20/GN/REG059 Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) (Third Amendment) Regulations, 2020. , dated March 29, 2020

[ix] NCLT Notice dated April 20, 2020.

[x] Writ Petition (Civil) Diary No.11055/2020 ( ALJO K. JOSEPH Vs. UNION OF INDIA & ANR.): Order dated April 30, 2020.

[xi] Writ Petition (Civil) Diary No(S). 11049/2020 ( Abhinav Ramkrishna Vs. Union Of India & Ors. ): Order Dated May 8, 2020

[xii] “ How lockdown has hit judiciary, in numbers — April cases fall to 82k from 14 lakh avg in 2019 ”: The Print, May 4, 2020.

[xiii] W.P.No.7419 of 2020: ( Dr.A.E. Chelliah vs. The Chairman and Members of the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and an. )

[xiv] Bar Council Of Tamil Nadu & Puducherry: Press Release Dated 08-05-2020

[xv] Covid-19 Fallout: Pressure on hourly fee of top consultants, lawyers: The Economic Times, May 1, 2020

[xvi] “ After 180 cases from Arthur Road Jail, Maharashtra to release half the state’s prisoners ”: The Indian Express, May 12, 2020.

[xvii] Mainland China adds 573 coronavirus infections, eyes risks abroad: Reuters.com, March 1, 2020

[xviii] (1966) 3 SCR 744

[xix] “ ‘ Public hearing fundamental to democracy’: Lawyers on SC hearings via video conference ”, The Print, April 20, 2020.

[xx] The Law and The Lawyers By: M. K. Gandhi

[xxi] Pandemic or poison? How epidemics shaped Southasia's legal history by Mitra Sharafi: Himal Southasian, April 20, 2020.

[xxii] GD 353, 1918 GOB to District Magistrate, Bijapur, 13 November, 1918.

[loyallogic]

Migrant workers : the need for systemic change in law and policy | Panel Discussion

This article is written by Priyanka Cholera, a student of MKES College of Law, Mumbai University.

Guest Speakers:

Prof. Sunita Reddy – Associate professor JNU, Specialises on Medical Anthropology

2. Sanjoy Ghodse – Labour Law expert. Practicing Advocate for over 20 years, Standing counsel Government of Delhi 

3. Aman Madan – Partner at Chamber of Legal Solutions Legal Aid

4. Indu Prakash Singh – Facilitator, Citymakers Mission International, National Convener of a national forum for Housing Rights Working Rights of Homeless people, Member of State Level Shelter Monitor Committee 

5. Ramapriya Gopalakrishnan – Practicing Advocate at Madras Highcourt, Specializes in Labour Law, Associated with ILO, for 16 years now

6. Vishnu Shankar Jain Advocate –on-record, Supreme Court of India. 

Host:

Sanchita Ain — Advocate – on- Record Supreme Court of India

Why is focus on Migrant Worker’s need of the hour?

Sanchita Ain states that WTO released a report in 2019 states that there are around 453 million internal migrant workers reported in 2011 report, hence migrants and their concerns have been around for many years, it has surfaced during COVID crises, hopefully this conversation will lead us to a sustainable solution, for a post-pandemic world too.

What are the important issues of migrant workers?

Sanjoy Ghose, Attention towards migrant workers was brought due to the Corona Crises and through media, everyone is now aware of their conditions and crises when they’re walking back home to their natives and living off railway stations and bus stand it has brought forward the reality that our industries are powered by Migrant workers. 

Before understanding the issues we have to understand the migrant workers are ordinary workers with migrant status, all the labor laws, which are extensive in numbers and complicated, according to Mr. Sanjoy, and the Trade Unions and Employers agree on it too. Hence the government came up with four code systems to overcome these flaws.

According to Mr. Sanjoy following changes can be made to improve the condition of laborers: 

The lockdown was implemented with four-hour notice and the later government released the notification for the payment of migrant workers, which already lapsed and caused court proceedings. Many states like Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Orrisa have tried to come up with their versions to dilute labor laws with the understanding that after a pandemic is over these labor laws will inhibit growth. 

In other countries, the government has given a lot of economic concessions to their employers to restart the industry. Unfortunately in India, similar measures are not taken, in turn, they have taken the measures that if you remove these workers, conducting business would be easier.

What laws apply to migrant workers? What changes can be made if any?

The Interstate Migrant Workers Act 1979, this said act was implemented from a supreme court judgment and a parliamentary committee, to look after the socio-economic problem of the Dadan Labours of Orissa, this act is revolutionary in its nature as it clearly states that, it is the right of the migrant workers to be sent back to the native state by train. Their rights to regulate these contractors who would bring these workers from the home state to the host state and registration of their contracts, of the workers, keeping the attendance record and dealing with a problem like, if the migrant worker was forced to agree to debt, then he is released from it when he goes back to his home, provisions of residence, etc.

Over time society and employers outsmarted the laws. E.g. Minimum wages, when this law was implemented, everyone honored it in Scouting. Delhi High court has implied that the wages would be paid in electronic means, the employers deposited money in the migrant’s account in the morning and the migrant in the evening withdrew it and gave it back to the employer. 

Hence the essence of Interstate Migrant Workers Act i.e the contractor will bring the migrant workers from the originated state to the receiving state is completely vanished; over the time due to the confusion of receiving and registering, the employers stopped hiring people from other states and started hiring people in their state only. This “outsmart move” of the employers rendered all the benefits of the discussed ‘Null and Void’.

As a result, all migrants were walking back home. Not only the employers, even the government is responsible to take care of the migrants, but unfortunately, they stepped in with their ‘Shramik Train’ when the damage had already been done.

What is being done concerning the Labour laws?

The implementation has been the root of the cause and it lies on the part of the employers, thus it has been manipulated for their benefits. As even factory inspectors are in their control. One of the solutions is to make registration of workers centrally and give every worker one number identity and link it with his bank account like Aadhaar, so that money gets directly transferred to that person. 

The answer to complicated laws is not to go around it but bring it midway for both small scale employers and the workers.

The Informal Sector already has an Unorganised Workers Act, which unfortunately hasn’t been operationalized yet. Hence it is the need of the hour to take everyone’s benefit into account and leave no one out of the welfare scheme.

What steps can be taken for the Migrants welfare?

Mr. Indu Singh, with his decades of experience says that he calls the migrants as ‘City-makers or Village-makers or Nation-makers’ because they build everything. He agrees with Mr. Sanjoy, on the point of having a similar structure for Migrants like Aadhar Card System. The pandemic has revealed the gap that exists in society between the rich and the poor, and the government picked its side to favor, while the poor were marching barefoot on the road to reach home. The benefits of the poor should come to them rather than seeking it. To facilitate the migrants, the government needs to apply a central ration card system, because the migrant maybe is living in Delhi but has the ration card of the U.P, because without the ration card they are not given the benefits of ration. 

The interstate migrant workers act implies that it’s a state’s responsibility to look after the migrants, but the railways decided to donate a generous amount of Rs. 150 crores to the PM cares fund. The relief called the Shramik Train was an agonizing journey for many people with no food, no water, there have been cases where migrants reached home but they died in a train because of lack of basic facilities. 

What is the danger ahead on the road for migrant workers?

The government is using ploy as an excuse to dilute labor laws. If that comes into implementation it will economically massacre the laborers of the country, which as responsible citizens we cannot let it happen. Hence the onus is on us to use every legal tool possible to safeguard the rights of migrants. 

What can the government do, to better the condition?

One of the steps that can be taken is ‘registration of workers in the place of origin’, various Panchayats and Gram Sabha should be empowered to do so. The contractor should be registered too, this notion is supported by the act too. The onus is on the Society too, to follow every word of law made for the welfare of migrants. Some employers have sent buses to bring back the migrant workers, the same who turned their backs on them in the first place.

We have to understand that people who come to the city as laborers are not doing so out of choice but the lack of choice in their hometowns, the casteism and the fascism that happens against these workers has already caused them enough distress and harm, for others to cause any further.

The people have to hold the government accountable to compensate the families of migrants who died on the front of the economy, while they were helping build a better nation through their hard work.

Now that the laborers are back the government can develop a Skill Development Center under the National Skill Development Center Scheme in the villages to help these people to pick up some skills that can help them sustain life with higher income. Mr. Indu Singh puts forward that poverty is inversely proportional to prosperity. The richer we get as a country, laterally we get poorer too. 

How does the constitution disagree with the conditions of migrants today?

Mr. Vishnu cites that the word ‘Socialist’ was added to the Indian constitution by the 42nd Amendment in the year 1976, the purpose of introducing in the Preamble, was to eradicate the gap between the rich and poor. The state should endeavor to establish a society which strives to achieve the welfare of all classes and presents itself as a role model for the entire country, all this labor was taken to ensure that the Labourers should not face the conditions they did today.

The Article 43 of the Indian Constitution, ‘The State shall endeavor to secure, by suitable legislation or economic organization or in any other way, to all workers, agricultural, industrial or otherwise, work, a living wage, conditions of work ensuring a decent standard of life and full enjoyment of leisure and social and cultural opportunities and, in particular, the State shall endeavor to promote cottage industries on an individual or co-operative basis in rural areas’.

There has been an endless number of laws implemented for work or living wages, but there has been no law implemented to ensure the ‘leisure or cultural or social’ opportunity to the workers. This situation from 1950 till today has not been improved.

Article 43 is supported by Article 31(c) which states that ‘Saving of laws giving effect to certain directive principles Notwithstanding anything contained in Article 13, no law giving effect to the policy of the State towards securing all or any of the principles laid down in Part IV shall be deemed to be void on the ground that it is inconsistent with ……’

Article 43 (a) Participation of workers in the management of industries The State shall take steps, by suitable legislation or in any other way, to secure the participation of workers in the management of undertakings, establishments or other organizations engaged in any industry. 

We should be asking questions about, why aren’t the above articles implemented in its full force yet. The provisions of THE BUILDING AND OTHER CONSTRUCTION WORKERS’ (REGULATION OF EMPLOYMENT AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE) ACT, 1996, which has various schemes for workers, implies to workplaces with only more than 10 workers, there is no provision for those excluded.

The obligation of registration is on the laborers, which is completely unreasonable given the conditions these people live, in all the above mention acts, there is provision for funds, but lack of implementation; There is restriction working hours and overtime for workers in BOCW Act, a writ petition under Article 32 was filed in respect of above-discussed Act, in the case of National Campaign Committee for Central Legislation on Construction Labour vs Union of India, 2018. The Supreme court said that To date many states in India have not created guidelines for the implementation of the Time restriction rules in the BOCW Act. To make any state welfare state funds are needed but states continue to disappoint in this regard. Section 11 that emphasizes on registration of workers, that is also not being implemented. As a result of non-registration all the ‘Citymakers’ are deprived of the rights they are entitled to.

Mr. Vishnu puts forward a similar opinion as to the other speakers, that there should be a unified code for all workers regardless of their migration status. He adds that the Labour work and the migrant work is in the concurrent list, hence both state and central can implement laws regarding it. He emphasized centrally to do everything in its capacity to ensure all the rights and provision in the Constitution for workers is secured. And if possible have a central body set up to look after the interstate migrants.

Recently in U.P during the current crises, 2.5 million migrant workers were brought into the state within the span of 10 days and 1 million were relocated by the government. Commendable work has been done by the U.P government in this crisis order to ensure the relocation and safety and safety of migrants.

What can be done from a Social Science Point of View?

Prof. Sunita Reddy, as a social science expert and disaster being her core subject, says that whenever there is a disaster, it allows everyone to think and rethink, it causes greater vulnerability than it already exists in the underprivileged and existing social fissures widen in these times of crises. On top of it, this pandemic was not predicted by anyone hence the whole is on the same page of suffering.

Two studies that she was part of, were focussed on Marginalised and Construction workers as well as the gender aspects of it.

BOCW act based on cess points collected from construction companies, a small amount of their profit is used for the welfare of the workers, there are 18 schemes under the CESS funds to be utilized. Unfortunately in every state welfare fund remains untouched for the welfare of workers.

She shared data of crores of funds that have remained unused, in states like Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, Except States like Kerala, who has used its funds to optimal utilization.

According to her research unskilled were supposed to be paid Rs. 513 per day but the research Prof. Reddy was part of in 2015 and 2017 showed that none of the workers in 3 construction sites and 9 Bastis they inquired, were given the standard amount. They were paid Rs 250 to 300 maximum.

In the 18 schemes she mentioned earlier, there are fellowships for children of construction workers from class 1 to professionals where they are entitled to Rs.5k, but if the child and family are in Bihar they cannot transfer the money. She supports the previous speakers on their suggestion of Unique ID.

Research stated that 85% of workers did not know about the rights and acts in their welfare. In her opinion, there should be boards of awareness about the discussed privileges. One time campaigning will not help.

Even in these marginalized sections, women are at the bottom of the schemes, most women as head loaders, that job is being replaced by machines, and then they move to domestic work. We have RPL – Recognition of Prior Training where women should be trained for masonry and painting. Women and children as seen as one unit in these schemes, but most women leave back their children to work on sites, in these cases there can provision of Aanganwadi for Children, as the number of missing children and child abuse is increasing day by.

Despite all numbers being available out and clear, still, we’re not able to implement any policy regarding it.

We need to introspect, rethink and empathize with the current situation of workers; As most of them have gone back to their hometowns, employment generation there would be ideal, helping them get skilled and set up smaller towns for their benefits.

Taking disaster as an opportunity to make all workers self-sufficient and focusing on their skill development. 

What are the shortcomings of Laws related to Migrants?

Mrs. Ramapriya Gopalkrishnan agrees on the opinions of other panelists. The COVID Crises has brought forth the inadequacy of Law and Policy Making. She cited the Interstate Migrant workers act definition of Migrant Workers, as a person recruited by or through a contractor from one state to work in another state. Hence workers who migrate by themselves i.e. without a contractor, are not covered in the Act.

The shortcomings are as follows:

The Definition aspect

The number threshold

No provisions related to Social Security in Law

Denied Access for Migrant workers

Only one provision relating to equal wages for equal work

No provisions for women.

No provision for safety and accommodation of single women migrant workers,

No separate provision for the prevention of Sexual Harassment of Migrated Workers.

The Act discussed only applies to establishments and contractors with 5 or more workers, however, many establishments are split into smaller units, they might employ only 4 people as a unit, which results in excluding the workers out of the ambit of the Act. 

There are certain obligations placed on the employer as well as the contractor, e.g. the contractor has to ensure the timely payment of the worker and minimum wages, payment of the displaced allowance, journey allowance, suitable residential accommodation for migrant workers, properly protected clothing if the migrant worker doing the same work as permanent workers in the establishment, then they are supposed to pay at par with regular workers, etc

Some states have approached the Center to ‘Repel the Act’ as there are already “too many acts” around it.

The government of the U.P has drafted Exemptions from Certain Labour Laws Ordinance, it has not been assigned by The President until now, but if it does it will have dangerous consequences. Madhya Pradesh has exempted new industries from the Industrial Disputes Act for the first 1000 days.

The Draft Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2019 has been drafted by Central Government, which includes 13 laws in itself, including The Interstate Migrant Workers Act, with a change in definition, which says that even if a person is directly recruited by an employer, he will be counted under the definition of Migrant Workers. There is a provision in the Code for ‘Wage Ceiling of Migrant Workers’ in the host state.

In the Parliament Standing Committee made recommendations in February 2020, it was proposed that there be separate chapters in the Draft Code for interstate migrant workers that should be distinct and separated from Contract Workers. They also suggested that there are not sufficient provisions related to the welfare of Migrant Workers. There should be a Support desk, helpline, hostels for children, etc. all these recommendations were put forward.

As a lawyer what can be expected while dealing with Migrant worker’s issues?

Mr. Aman Madan shares his personal experience as legal aid. He had visited labor camps housing about 500 workers at a construction site, had spent close to 2 weeks interacting with workers.

He observed the following:

Prima facie, the reality on paper and reality on the ground are two very different situations. The implementation that is expected and the one that happens are extremely contradictory.

Laborers do not know about labor cards, lack of awareness, lack of sensitization, ignorance is breeding, and thriving among these people.

The solution to these problems is not more laws, as the existing ones are enough to complicate the situation. The focus should be on how we implement what we currently have because ignorance won’t drive itself away by making more laws, awareness will. 

Mr. Madan insisted on the points made by panelists earlier regarding One Nation One Ration, a centralized database system not only for workers but also employers, regardless of their structure of establishment, the distinction between longer-term and short term workers.

Technology can extremely elevate the standards of distribution we have today.

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[brajeshupadhyay]

Coronavirus Outbreak LIVE Updates: Uddhav Thackeray defers reopening of Maharashtra under 'Unlock 1' from 3 to 5 June in view of Cyclone Nisarga

08:44 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak Latest Update

Global COVID-19 cases have crossed 3.6 million; toll at 3,80,180

The number of people infected by the novel coronavirus disease has crossed 3.6 million at 6,376,822. A total of 3,80,180 people have died due to the disease worldwide, according to the John Hopkins University.

08:40 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update

10% of India’s population above 60 years account for 50% of COVID-19 deaths

The elderly, who constitute 10% of India’s population, accounted for over 50% of the country’s Covid-19 deaths, the government said on Tuesday. Besides, 73% of COVID-19 deaths were among those with co-morbidities, the health ministry said, arguing that India was able to manage COVID-19 treatment and reduce deaths better than many other countries.

08:35 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in West Bengal Latest Update

Bengal reports 392 new cases, state total at 5,772

West Bengal registered the highest single-day spike in COVID-19 cases on Tuesday with 396 people testing positive for the disease in the last 24 hours, the state health department said.

Ten persons died due to the disease since Monday evening, raising the death toll in the state to 263, it said. Eight deaths were reported from Kolkata and one each from Birbhum and North 24 Parganas districts.

The tally of coronavirus cases rose to 5,772 in the state, while the number of active cases stood at 3,423, the department said in its daily bulletin.

08:17 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Update

Udhhav Thackeray defers reopening state from 3 to 5 June

The Maharashtra government on Sunday extended till 30 June the lockdown in the entire state, and announced the easing of restrictions and phase-wise resumption of activities under the "Mission Begin Again".

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in a video address on Tuesday had told that he would be deferring the 'Unlock 1' reopening of the state from 3 June to 5 June in view of the Cylone Nisarga, which is expected to make landfall in the city on Wednesday afternoon. 

Initially under ''Mission Begin Again'', outdoor physical activities like morning walks, cycling would be allowed from 3 June. But now, all such activities like self employed persons like plumbers, electricians, pest control staff and technicians being allowed to work, garages to reopen from 5 June.

08:01 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update

Delhi registers highest single-day spike in cases with over 22,000 cases 

A record single-day spike of 1,298 fresh cases took the COVID-19 tally in Delhi to over 22,000 on Tuesday and the death toll due to the disease mounted to 556, authorities said. The previous highest spike in fresh — 1,295 — was recorded on 31 May .

In a bulletin issued on Tuesday, the Delhi health department said the death toll due to coronavirus has risen to 556 in the national capital and the total number of cases has mounted to 22,132. Eleven deaths were reported on May 31, the bulletin said.

07:54 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in US Latest Update

US records 15,846 more COVID-19 cases amid rising protests

There are at least 1,827,206 cases of coronavirus in the United States and at least 106,028 people have died, according to Johns Hopkins University data. A total of 15,846 new COVID-19 cases and 863 more deaths were reported on Tuesday amid rising protests over George Floyd's death, CNN reported.

07:48 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Delhi Latest Update

District judge of Rohini court tests positive for COVID-19

The district judge of the Rohini District Courts complex here tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, the president of the bar association said. District Judge RP Pandey's wife was found to be COVID-19 positive on Sunday, advocate Mahavir Sharma, the president of the Rohini District Court Bar Association, said.

Both are in quarantine and undergoing treatment at home, he added. The judge had last visited the courts complex on Saturday, Sharma said.

07:42 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in Odisha Latest Update

Railways announces 5 intra-state special trains in Odisha

The East Coast Railway (ECoR) on Tuesday announced five intra-state special trains in Odisha from 8 June. The trains will run five days a week barring on weekends till June 30, an official of ECoR said, adding, they will travel to Sambalpur, Balangir, Bhadrak, Brahmapur and Koraput districts.

Only confirmed ticket holders will be allowed to board the trains, the official said. Other special trains between Bhubaneswar and New Delhi, Mumbai and Howrah will continue to run as notified earlier, he said.

07:28 (IST)

Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update

India very far from peak, says ICMR

Even as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country climbed to 1,98,706  and the death count rose to 5,598, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said that the country was "very far away" from the peak of the infection and was better positioned than most other countries.

However, Joint Secretary in the Health Ministry Lav Agarwal, during a briefing on the COVID-19 situation in the country, said it is wrong to just look at the total number of cases and state that India has the seventh-highest number of cases as the population of countries also should be taken into account.

About 14 most affected countries with a cumulative population almost equal to that of India have reported 55.2 times more COVID-19 deaths and 22.5 times more cases, he said.

Coronavirus Outbreak LATEST Updates: Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in a video address on Tuesday had told that he would be deferring the 'Unlock 1' reopening of the state from 3 June to 5 June in view of the Cyclone Nisarga, which is expected to make landfall in the city on Wednesday afternoon.

Even as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country climbed to 1,98,706  and the death count rose to 5,598, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said that the country was "very far away" from the peak of the infection and was better positioned than most other countries.

8,171 new cases, 204 deaths reported in 24 hours

In the 24 hours since 8 am on Monday, the country reported 8,171 cases, taking the number of confirmed cases to 1,98,706 while the toll climbed to 5,598 as 204 more deaths were recorded across the country, said the health ministry in its morning update.

As many as 95,526 people have recovered and one patient has migrated, and the number of active cases now stands at 97,581, according to the health ministry data.

Around 48.07 percent patients have recovered so far, a ministry official said.

Out of the 204 more deaths since Monday morning, 76 were in Maharashtra, 50 in Delhi, 25 in Gujarat and 11 in Tamil Nadu. Eight people each died of COVID-19 in West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh, followed by six in Telangana, and four each in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

With 2,362 deaths, Maharashtra accounts for the highest number of fatalities out of the total 5,598 deaths, followed by 1,063 in Gujarat, 523 in Delhi, 358 in Madhya Pradesh and 335 in West Bengal.

There have been 217 coronavirus deaths so far in Uttar Pradesh, while 198 succumbed to the infection in Rajasthan, 184 in Tamil Nadu, 88 in Telangana and 64 in Andhra Pradesh.

The highest number of confirmed cases is 70,013 from Maharashtra, followed 23,495 in by Tamil Nadu, 20,834 in Delhi, and 17,200 in Gujarat. There are 8,980 cases of the viral infection in Rajasthan, 8,283 in Madhya Pradesh and 8,075 in Uttar Pradesh. The number of COVID-19 cases has gone up to 5,772 in West Bengal, 3,926 in Bihar and 3,783 in Andhra Pradesh.

The ministry said 6,414 COVID-19 cases were being reassigned to states, adding that the figures were being reconciled with the ICMR.

With a total of 1,98,706 cases, India is now seventh among the worst-hit nations by the COVID-19 pandemic after the US, Brazil, Russia, the UK, Spain and Italy.

Country very far away from peak, says ICMR

However, Joint Secretary in the Health Ministry Lav Agarwal, during a briefing on the COVID-19 situation in the country, said it is wrong to just look at the total number of cases and state that India has the seventh-highest number of cases as the population of countries also should be taken into account.

About 14 most affected countries with a cumulative population almost equal to that of India have reported 55.2 times more COVID-19 deaths and 22.5 times more cases, he said.

"Our COVID-19 fatality rate is 2.82 percent as against 6.13 percent globally. Our COVID-19 fatality rate is amongst the lowest in the world," he said and attributed it to timely identification of cases and proper clinical management.

Presenting an age profile analysis of COVID-19 deaths, Agarwal said one in every two COVID-19 deaths in India has been of senior citizens who constitute 10 percent of the total population. This ten percent of India's population accounts for 50 percent of India's COVID-19 linked deaths, he said,  while 73 percent of COVID-19 deaths in the country are of people with comorbidities.

ICMR scientist Nivedita Gupta said that the country was far from approaching the peak of the infection.

"We are very far away from the peak. Our preventive measures to curtail the disease are very effective and we are better positioned in comparison with other countries. You will get to see the data in a week."

The medical research body is conducting a sero-survey to assess the extent of spread of COVID-19 and almost 34,000 people are being tested as a part of it, she said, adding that its results will be out in the public domain by the end of this week or early next week.

When asked about the prevalence of community transmission in the country, Gupta said that instead of focusing on the term "community transmission", it was important to understand the extent of spread of the contagion and where India stood in comparison with other countries.

Responding to a question on whether there is some amount of under-reporting of COVID-19 deaths with several states not testing bodies for the infection, Gupta said there was no under-reporting of COVID-19 deaths in India and states were doing causality assessment and attributing cause of death accordingly.

"None of us thinks that there is gross under-reporting of COVID-19 deaths. If you look at the figures, India has been very good with reduction in mortality, as compared with other nations," she said. "A patient who comes to hospital and dies can be COVID-19 positive or negative and there are lot of factors which are responsible for a death. It is not fair to attribute every death to COVID-19," Gupta said at a press conference.

In terms of the number of deaths getting reported in the country and also even in different mortuaries, Agarwal said "there was no abnormal increase in numbers rather they have gone down".

"Let us feel reassured that the country is in safe hands and continued efforts are being done in the direction in terms of management of COVID-19," he said at the briefing.

The health ministry also stressed on the importance of taking adequate precautions even as the country has begun to open up offices, shops and commercial activity under the 'Unlock' plan announced by the Centre.

"As we are in 'Unlock-1' situation, the challenge before us is how to follow COVID-appropriate behaviour, be it in terms of travel or office functioning. We have to think in terms of a new normal on how to live with the virus by taking adequate precautions so as to protect ourselves from it," he said.

Many states have eased restrictions since Monday to revive the economy and achieve a semblance of normalcy, after a two-month-long coronavirus-induced lockdown. Domestic flights and trains have also begun to operate to a limited extent.

State-wise cases

Meanwhile, the number of cases and deaths has continued to rise in many states, especially among those coming from other states and abroad. A PTI tally based on the numbers reported by states and Union Territories till 10.05 pm put the total number of infections found in the country at 2,00,321 and deaths at 5,739. It also showed a higher count of recoveries at 99,613, leaving nearly 95,000 active cases across the country.

Gujarat on Tuesday reported 415 new COVID-19 cases and 29 deaths, taking the overall case count to 17,632 and fatalities to 1,092, the state Health department said. In Ahmedabad itself, 279 new cases and 24 deaths were recorded taking the total to 12,773 and toll to 888.

In neighbouring Maharashtra, the case count surged to 72,300 with  2,287 and 103 deaths recorded. With this, the death count in the state rose to 2,465. The number of active cases in the state stands at 38,493, said the state health department.

Karnataka recorded the biggest single-day spike of 388 COVID-19 cases, with returnees from neighbouring Maharashtra continuing to add to the state's case count, taking the total number of infections to 3,796, according to the state health department. With 367 out of 388 new cases being returnees from other states, mostly from neighboring Maharashtra (357), the Karnataka government said it was mulling over increasing institutional quarantine for those returning from the western state.

Kerala also recorded a spurt in cases, with 86 testing positive in a single day and pushing the state's total to 1,412. A 77-year-old Christian priest died at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital on Tuesday, taking the toll in the state to 11.

Tamil Nadu reported more than 1,000 cases for the third straight day, pushing the infection count past the 24,000 mark. The toll has risen to 197 with 13 more deaths while the number of confirmed cases surged to 24,586.

In Telangana, twelve post-graduate students of a state-run medical college tested positive for COVID-19 while the fresh cases in Himachal Pradesh included a Delhi Police personnel, a SpiceJet passenger and a Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) employee. The confirmed cases in the hilly state climbed to 346.

In Delhi, five police personnel from Anand Parbat area, taking the total number of those infected among the Delhi Police to over 500, reported ANI. Thirteen employees of Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal's office and six other government officials have also tested positive for COVID-19, sources told PTI. They said junior assistants, drivers, peons are among the 13 people working at the Lt Governor Secretariat who have tested positive for the virus, leading to fear among other employees.

Deeply concerned about health of officials of my secretariat who tested positive for COVID-19 Health of all officials is stable & is being closely monitored

All of these officials were working tirelessly in these difficult times shoulder to shoulder with other frontline workers

— LG Delhi (@LtGovDelhi) June 2, 2020

// <![CDATA[ <script> // ]]>

Meanwhile, the global toll due to the viral infection climbed to 3,76,320 and the number of cases reached 61,94,533, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO's) coronavirus tracker.

With inputs from agencies

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08:44 (IST) Coronavirus Outbreak Latest Update Global COVID-19 cases have crossed 3.6 million; toll at 3,80,180 The number of people infected by the novel coronavirus disease has crossed 3.6 million at 6,376,822. A total of 3,80,180 people have died due to the disease worldwide, according to the John Hopkins University. 08:40 (IST) Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update 10% of India’s population above 60 years account for 50% of COVID-19 deaths The elderly, who constitute 10% of India’s population, accounted for over 50% of the country’s Covid-19 deaths, the government said on Tuesday. Besides, 73% of COVID-19 deaths were among those with co-morbidities, the health ministry said, arguing that India was able to manage COVID-19 treatment and reduce deaths better than many other countries. 08:35 (IST) Coronavirus Outbreak in West Bengal Latest Update Bengal reports 392 new cases, state total at 5,772 West Bengal registered the highest single-day spike in COVID-19 cases on Tuesday with 396 people testing positive for the disease in the last 24 hours, the state health department said. Ten persons died due to the disease since Monday evening, raising the death toll in the state to 263, it said. Eight deaths were reported from Kolkata and one each from Birbhum and North 24 Parganas districts. The tally of coronavirus cases rose to 5,772 in the state, while the number of active cases stood at 3,423, the department said in its daily bulletin. 08:17 (IST) Coronavirus Outbreak in Maharashtra Latest Update Udhhav Thackeray defers reopening state from 3 to 5 June The Maharashtra government on Sunday extended till 30 June the lockdown in the entire state, and announced the easing of restrictions and phase-wise resumption of activities under the "Mission Begin Again". Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in a video address on Tuesday had told that he would be deferring the 'Unlock 1' reopening of the state from 3 June to 5 June in view of the Cylone Nisarga, which is expected to make landfall in the city on Wednesday afternoon.  Initially under ''Mission Begin Again'', outdoor physical activities like morning walks, cycling would be allowed from 3 June. But now, all such activities like self employed persons like plumbers, electricians, pest control staff and technicians being allowed to work, garages to reopen from 5 June. 08:01 (IST) Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update Delhi registers highest single-day spike in cases with over 22,000 cases  A record single-day spike of 1,298 fresh cases took the COVID-19 tally in Delhi to over 22,000 on Tuesday and the death toll due to the disease mounted to 556, authorities said. The previous highest spike in fresh — 1,295 — was recorded on 31 May . In a bulletin issued on Tuesday, the Delhi health department said the death toll due to coronavirus has risen to 556 in the national capital and the total number of cases has mounted to 22,132. Eleven deaths were reported on May 31, the bulletin said. 07:54 (IST) Coronavirus Outbreak in US Latest Update US records 15,846 more COVID-19 cases amid rising protests There are at least 1,827,206 cases of coronavirus in the United States and at least 106,028 people have died, according to Johns Hopkins University data. A total of 15,846 new COVID-19 cases and 863 more deaths were reported on Tuesday amid rising protests over George Floyd's death, CNN reported. 07:48 (IST) Coronavirus Outbreak in Delhi Latest Update District judge of Rohini court tests positive for COVID-19 The district judge of the Rohini District Courts complex here tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, the president of the bar association said. District Judge RP Pandey's wife was found to be COVID-19 positive on Sunday, advocate Mahavir Sharma, the president of the Rohini District Court Bar Association, said. Both are in quarantine and undergoing treatment at home, he added. The judge had last visited the courts complex on Saturday, Sharma said. 07:42 (IST) Coronavirus Outbreak in Odisha Latest Update Railways announces 5 intra-state special trains in Odisha The East Coast Railway (ECoR) on Tuesday announced five intra-state special trains in Odisha from 8 June. The trains will run five days a week barring on weekends till June 30, an official of ECoR said, adding, they will travel to Sambalpur, Balangir, Bhadrak, Brahmapur and Koraput districts. Only confirmed ticket holders will be allowed to board the trains, the official said. Other special trains between Bhubaneswar and New Delhi, Mumbai and Howrah will continue to run as notified earlier, he said. 07:28 (IST) Coronavirus Outbreak in India Latest Update India very far from peak, says ICMR Even as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country climbed to 1,98,706  and the death count rose to 5,598, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said that the country was "very far away" from the peak of the infection and was better positioned than most other countries. However, Joint Secretary in the Health Ministry Lav Agarwal, during a briefing on the COVID-19 situation in the country, said it is wrong to just look at the total number of cases and state that India has the seventh-highest number of cases as the population of countries also should be taken into account. About 14 most affected countries with a cumulative population almost equal to that of India have reported 55.2 times more COVID-19 deaths and 22.5 times more cases, he said. Coronavirus Outbreak LATEST Updates: Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in a video address on Tuesday had told that he would be deferring the 'Unlock 1' reopening of the state from 3 June to 5 June in view of the Cyclone Nisarga, which is expected to make landfall in the city on Wednesday afternoon. Even as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country climbed to 1,98,706  and the death count rose to 5,598, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said that the country was "very far away" from the peak of the infection and was better positioned than most other countries. 8,171 new cases, 204 deaths reported in 24 hours In the 24 hours since 8 am on Monday, the country reported 8,171 cases, taking the number of confirmed cases to 1,98,706 while the toll climbed to 5,598 as 204 more deaths were recorded across the country, said the health ministry in its morning update. As many as 95,526 people have recovered and one patient has migrated, and the number of active cases now stands at 97,581, according to the health ministry data. Around 48.07 percent patients have recovered so far, a ministry official said. Out of the 204 more deaths since Monday morning, 76 were in Maharashtra, 50 in Delhi, 25 in Gujarat and 11 in Tamil Nadu. Eight people each died of COVID-19 in West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh, followed by six in Telangana, and four each in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. With 2,362 deaths, Maharashtra accounts for the highest number of fatalities out of the total 5,598 deaths, followed by 1,063 in Gujarat, 523 in Delhi, 358 in Madhya Pradesh and 335 in West Bengal. There have been 217 coronavirus deaths so far in Uttar Pradesh, while 198 succumbed to the infection in Rajasthan, 184 in Tamil Nadu, 88 in Telangana and 64 in Andhra Pradesh. The highest number of confirmed cases is 70,013 from Maharashtra, followed 23,495 in by Tamil Nadu, 20,834 in Delhi, and 17,200 in Gujarat. There are 8,980 cases of the viral infection in Rajasthan, 8,283 in Madhya Pradesh and 8,075 in Uttar Pradesh. The number of COVID-19 cases has gone up to 5,772 in West Bengal, 3,926 in Bihar and 3,783 in Andhra Pradesh. The ministry said 6,414 COVID-19 cases were being reassigned to states, adding that the figures were being reconciled with the ICMR. With a total of 1,98,706 cases, India is now seventh among the worst-hit nations by the COVID-19 pandemic after the US, Brazil, Russia, the UK, Spain and Italy. Country very far away from peak, says ICMR However, Joint Secretary in the Health Ministry Lav Agarwal, during a briefing on the COVID-19 situation in the country, said it is wrong to just look at the total number of cases and state that India has the seventh-highest number of cases as the population of countries also should be taken into account. About 14 most affected countries with a cumulative population almost equal to that of India have reported 55.2 times more COVID-19 deaths and 22.5 times more cases, he said. "Our COVID-19 fatality rate is 2.82 percent as against 6.13 percent globally. Our COVID-19 fatality rate is amongst the lowest in the world," he said and attributed it to timely identification of cases and proper clinical management. Presenting an age profile analysis of COVID-19 deaths, Agarwal said one in every two COVID-19 deaths in India has been of senior citizens who constitute 10 percent of the total population. This ten percent of India's population accounts for 50 percent of India's COVID-19 linked deaths, he said,  while 73 percent of COVID-19 deaths in the country are of people with comorbidities. ICMR scientist Nivedita Gupta said that the country was far from approaching the peak of the infection. "We are very far away from the peak. Our preventive measures to curtail the disease are very effective and we are better positioned in comparison with other countries. You will get to see the data in a week." The medical research body is conducting a sero-survey to assess the extent of spread of COVID-19 and almost 34,000 people are being tested as a part of it, she said, adding that its results will be out in the public domain by the end of this week or early next week. When asked about the prevalence of community transmission in the country, Gupta said that instead of focusing on the term "community transmission", it was important to understand the extent of spread of the contagion and where India stood in comparison with other countries. Responding to a question on whether there is some amount of under-reporting of COVID-19 deaths with several states not testing bodies for the infection, Gupta said there was no under-reporting of COVID-19 deaths in India and states were doing causality assessment and attributing cause of death accordingly. "None of us thinks that there is gross under-reporting of COVID-19 deaths. If you look at the figures, India has been very good with reduction in mortality, as compared with other nations," she said. "A patient who comes to hospital and dies can be COVID-19 positive or negative and there are lot of factors which are responsible for a death. It is not fair to attribute every death to COVID-19," Gupta said at a press conference. In terms of the number of deaths getting reported in the country and also even in different mortuaries, Agarwal said "there was no abnormal increase in numbers rather they have gone down". "Let us feel reassured that the country is in safe hands and continued efforts are being done in the direction in terms of management of COVID-19," he said at the briefing. The health ministry also stressed on the importance of taking adequate precautions even as the country has begun to open up offices, shops and commercial activity under the 'Unlock' plan announced by the Centre. "As we are in 'Unlock-1' situation, the challenge before us is how to follow COVID-appropriate behaviour, be it in terms of travel or office functioning. We have to think in terms of a new normal on how to live with the virus by taking adequate precautions so as to protect ourselves from it," he said. Many states have eased restrictions since Monday to revive the economy and achieve a semblance of normalcy, after a two-month-long coronavirus-induced lockdown. Domestic flights and trains have also begun to operate to a limited extent. State-wise cases Meanwhile, the number of cases and deaths has continued to rise in many states, especially among those coming from other states and abroad. A PTI tally based on the numbers reported by states and Union Territories till 10.05 pm put the total number of infections found in the country at 2,00,321 and deaths at 5,739. It also showed a higher count of recoveries at 99,613, leaving nearly 95,000 active cases across the country. Gujarat on Tuesday reported 415 new COVID-19 cases and 29 deaths, taking the overall case count to 17,632 and fatalities to 1,092, the state Health department said. In Ahmedabad itself, 279 new cases and 24 deaths were recorded taking the total to 12,773 and toll to 888. In neighbouring Maharashtra, the case count surged to 72,300 with  2,287 and 103 deaths recorded. With this, the death count in the state rose to 2,465. The number of active cases in the state stands at 38,493, said the state health department. Karnataka recorded the biggest single-day spike of 388 COVID-19 cases, with returnees from neighbouring Maharashtra continuing to add to the state's case count, taking the total number of infections to 3,796, according to the state health department. With 367 out of 388 new cases being returnees from other states, mostly from neighboring Maharashtra (357), the Karnataka government said it was mulling over increasing institutional quarantine for those returning from the western state. Kerala also recorded a spurt in cases, with 86 testing positive in a single day and pushing the state's total to 1,412. A 77-year-old Christian priest died at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital on Tuesday, taking the toll in the state to 11. Tamil Nadu reported more than 1,000 cases for the third straight day, pushing the infection count past the 24,000 mark. The toll has risen to 197 with 13 more deaths while the number of confirmed cases surged to 24,586. In Telangana, twelve post-graduate students of a state-run medical college tested positive for COVID-19 while the fresh cases in Himachal Pradesh included a Delhi Police personnel, a SpiceJet passenger and a Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) employee. The confirmed cases in the hilly state climbed to 346. In Delhi, five police personnel from Anand Parbat area, taking the total number of those infected among the Delhi Police to over 500, reported ANI. Thirteen employees of Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal's office and six other government officials have also tested positive for COVID-19, sources told PTI. They said junior assistants, drivers, peons are among the 13 people working at the Lt Governor Secretariat who have tested positive for the virus, leading to fear among other employees. Deeply concerned about health of officials of my secretariat who tested positive for COVID-19 Health of all officials is stable & is being closely monitored All of these officials were working tirelessly in these difficult times shoulder to shoulder with other frontline workers — LG Delhi (@LtGovDelhi) June 2, 2020 // // ]]> Meanwhile, the global toll due to the viral infection climbed to 3,76,320 and the number of cases reached 61,94,533, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO's) coronavirus tracker. With inputs from agencies

http://sansaartimes.blogspot.com/2020/06/coronavirus-outbreak-live-updates_3.html