Allow Cookies!
By using our website, you agree to the use of cookies
The Madras High Court in the matter of Safai Karmcahari Andolan v. Union of India & Ors had given an order directing the State Government to submit a report on the steps taken for rehabilitation of manual scavengers. The petitioner of the case contented that even though of an explicit existence of Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 the state has disregarded the Act and turn a “blind eye” towards such incidents. The petitioner also mentioned that due to these inhuman acts there are many deaths occurring throughout the state. However, the state authorities on their side of argument said that the person who died during the scavenging operation was not a scavenger, but a contract employee engaged by the Municipality and the state to support their arguments claimed that the sewage activity was carried out in a mechanised way with help of safety measures.
On hearing this the division bench comprising of Chief Justice AP Sahi and Justice Subramonium Prasad called up the Villupuram Municipality to file an affidavit as to why appropriate actions were not taken inspite of these incidents having occurred. The bench also asked the state government to submit its report with 2 months as to see the steps for rehabilitation of manual scavengers. The court also directed the state government to collect the municipalities throughout the state and asked to inform the court about the budgetary allocations made as also the steps undertaken for mechanization of scavenging process to avoid any further future losses. The term Manual Scavengers are particularly used in India and also it is practised throughout the nation. The courts are making their utmost efforts to eradicate this issue, even the previous year the High Court of Punjab and Haryana taking suo moto cognizance of this inhuman act issued a series of obligatory directions to bring this to end.
86540
103860
630
114
59824