A Division Bench composed of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice PD Adikesavalu at the Madras High Court has recently directed the corporations and municipality to ensure that no person engages in manual scavenging.

The court was heartened to be informed that no death of any Safai karmachari was reported.

The Commissioners and the heads of Municipalities will be personally held liable in case any manual scavenging activity was detected or any mishap occurred in course thereof. 

It was filed by the Court that the state should endeavour to obtain appropriate machines or improve the sewer lines to ensure that no manual scavenging is necessary anywhere in the state.

All Commissioners of Municipal Corporations across the state and head of Municipality were directed to file written undertakings to the effect that no manual scavenging work would be permitted to be undertaken within the relevant corporation or municipality areas.

The matter is placed to be heard on November 10, 2021.

Case title: Safai Karmachari Andolan and Others vs Union of India and others