The Supreme Court of India emphasized the urgent need to eliminate manual sewer cleaning, urging the Centre to report on compliance with earlier directives. The court highlighted insufficient progress, despite available technology, and mandated compensation for families affected by sewer-related deaths and injuries. A review is scheduled for January 2025 to ensure compliance.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India reiterated the urgent need to eradicate manual sewer cleaning on Wednesday, directing the Centre to file an action taken report on compliance with its earlier directions. These directives aim to ensure the complete elimination of manual scavenging in a phased manner.
A bench comprising Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Aravind Kumar instructed Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the Centre, to convene a meeting of the central monitoring committee with all relevant stakeholders within two weeks. This committee is tasked with overseeing the implementation of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (MS Act, 2013).
“From the report, it appears that much needs to be done,” the bench observed, highlighting the lack of sufficient progress despite available technology to eradicate manual scavenging entirely. The court emphasized its earlier stance that manual sewer cleaning must be replaced by technological solutions, as outlined in its 2023 judgment.
Senior advocate K. Parameshwar, acting as amicus curiae, informed the court that 40 deaths occurred in 2024 due to sewer and septic tank cleaning but no First Information Reports (FIRs) were filed. He pointed out the failure of many committees mandated under the MS Act, 2013, and widespread non-compliance with the law.
In 2023, the Supreme Court issued several directives to address the systemic exploitation of individuals forced into manual scavenging. “A large segment of India’s population, involved in manual scavenging, has remained unheard and muted, in bondage, and systematically trapped in inhumane conditions,” the court noted. It called upon the Centre and states to frame policies ensuring the complete eradication of this practice.
Key directions included:
- No manual sewer cleaning through contractors or agencies without the use of appropriate technology.
- Compensation of Rs 30 lakh for families of individuals who died during sewer cleaning.
- Compensation of Rs 10–20 lakh for those who suffered disabilities due to sewer-related accidents, depending on the severity of their condition.
The apex court had also instructed states and union territories to align their guidelines with those issued by the Centre to ensure uniform compliance.
The matter will be reviewed in January 2025. As the Supreme Court continues to monitor the issue, it aims to uphold the dignity and safety of individuals, ensuring the eradication of a practice that has perpetuated inequality and human suffering for generations.
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