The Madras High Court on Wednesday directed the Commissioners of all municipal corporations as well as municipalities across the State to file written undertakings before the court to the effect that no manual scavenging will be permitted to be undertaken, even by private individuals, within their territorial jurisdiction.
Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice P.D. Audikesavalu issued the interim directions on a public interest litigation petition filed by Safai Karamchari Andolan in 2017 complaining about several deaths having been reported across the State due to manual scavenging despite the practice having been banned by way of law.
On Wednesday, the judges expressed satisfaction over no manual scavenging death having been reported in the State since they passed their last interim order making it clear that the Commissioners of civic bodies would be held personally responsible if any manual scavenging activity is detected or if any mishap occurs within their…