“Madhya Pradesh HC Takes Suo Motu Cognizance of Manual Scavenging Deaths

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has recently taken suo motu cognizance of the deaths caused by manual scavenging within the State.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ravi Malimath and Justice Vishal Mishra initiated the case based on several articles published in daily newspapers reporting on fatalities resulting from manual scavenging.

The Court has issued notice to the State authorities and scheduled the matter for a hearing after a period of four weeks.

One particular incident from Gwalior, where two workers lost their lives due to toxic gas while performing routine maintenance work in a sewer hole, was duly considered by the Court. Furthermore, the bench observed that similar incidents have taken place in various locations in Madhya Pradesh, wherein impoverished workers were sent into sewer lines without adequate protective gear or equipment.