Manual scavenging: HC asks Karnataka government to do survey of insanitary latrines

The High Court on Tuesday directed the government to immediately undertake a time-bound survey of insanitary latrines in the state.

A division bench headed by Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka perused the compliance of the directions issued by the court on December 9, 2020.

The bench observed that survey of insanitary latrines has not been carried out by the local authorities in terms of the provisions under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.

“State shall ensure that such a survey is conducted immediately and is done in a time-bound manner. Unless a survey is carried out in its true letter and spirit, very important provisions under Section 4 (1) of the Act, converting all insanitary latrines into sanitary latrines, will not take effect. Fix a time-bound survey and place directions on record,” the court said.

The court directed the government to explain why meetings of the state-level monitoring committee were not held after August 20, 2020, and in what manner the schemes will be implemented for the rehabilitation of manual scavengers.

“The state must place material showing implementation of the schemes and the state must devise a comprehensive programme for rehabilitating all manual scavengers,” the court said.

In regard to the incident in Maddur in the Mandya district, where one Narayana ended his life by suicide allegedly after he was pressurised to do manual scavenging, the court said it is the duty of the government to ascertain the facts, irrespective of the outcome of the police investigation.

“If it is found there is a substance in the said allegation, those who are involved in pressurising him to do manual scavenging should be brought to book. We, therefore, direct the government to file on record steps taken on this behalf on or before the next date,” the court said.