Delhi HC took suo motu cognizance of deaths caused by manual scavenging in the capital

Bench: A Division Bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad

In the national capital, the Delhi High Court, on Monday took suo motu cognisance of deaths caused by manual scavenging. In response to a Times of India news report about the death of two men in Mundka last week due to inhalation of toxic fumes within the sewer, the Court took action. The bench issued notice to the Delhi government, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Public Works Department (PWD), Delhi Jal Board, and other authorities directing them to file their reports on the issue.

Senior Advocate Rajshekhar Rao was appointed as amicus curiae in the matter.

The case will be heard next on September 21.

According to the TOI, a 32-year-old sweeper, Rohit Chandiliya, died after falling unconscious while clearing a blocked sewer in a residential society in outer Delhi's Mundka on Friday, September 9. In response, a security guard who entered the sewer to save the sweeper also passed away.