‘Municipal Bodies Will Be Held Responsible If Any Person Engages In Manual Scavenging’: Gujarat HC

The Gujarat High Court has recently stated that it’ll warn the chief of the Gram Panchayat and also the Commissioner of the concerned civic body if any person is found to be engaged in manual scavenging.

Therefore, on May 1st, an order was passed by a division bench of acting Chief Justice AJ Desai and Justice Biren Vaishnav.

The bench made it clear that “We make it clear that till the next date of hearing, if any of the workers whose services have been availed by any of the Municipal Corporation, any Municipality or any Gram Panchayat for cleaning sewerage in the concerned area, the Municipal Commissioner of concerned Corporation, Chief Officer of concerned Municipality and Sarpanch of concerned Gram Panchayat shall be held liable for the action since by the Government Resolution dated June 21, 2014, such activities have been banned.”

The bench heard a public interest litigation (PIL) petition underscoring the issue of manual scavenging in the State.

The plea sought proper implementation of Employment Prohibition as Manual Scavengers & Rehabilitation Act of 2013.

Following with the order, the bench mentioned that out of the total 152 persons who died while they got engaged in manual scavenging. Also, the State authorities have granted the compensation to legal heirs of 137 persons.

Further, it was told that the State is collecting information about more such individuals.