Supreme Court on Thursday directed states to bear the cost of bus and train fares being charged from the migrants who are heading home due to loss of employment during the nationwide lockdown.

A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, S K Kaul and M R Shah has said that migrants workers shall not be charged for any fare for the journey, either by bus or train. The cost of their travel will have to be shared between the sending and receiving states, as per their arrangments, the SC said.

The SC order further directed states to ensure that all migrant workers, who are stranded at various places, shall be provided food by the concerned state and UT.

The point of food distribution must be publicised and notified to the migrants for the period they are waiting for their turn to board a train or a bus, the SC order said.

In the train journey, the originating states will provide meals and water. Rest of the way, the Railways has been directed to provide meals and water. Food and water to also be provided in buses, the apex court has said.

On May 26, the top court had taken cognizance of the miseries of migrant workers and said there have been “inadequacies and certain lapses” by the Centre and the states, and asked them to provide transport, food and shelter immediately free of cost.