Delhi HC seeks response from State, DJB on PIL to regularise sewer workers, pay ₹1 crore compensation for death

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Delhi government and the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition seeking directions to regularise all the sewer workers in the national capital and provide compensation of more than ₹1 crore to the family of every deceased sewer or septic tank worker.

The petitioner also sought directions to extend compassionate government employment to one of the dependents of deceased sewer workers.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia directed the government authorities to collect the relevant data and give complete information to the Court. 

The PIL was filed by Dalit Adivasi Shakti Adhikar Manch.

As per the plea, sewer workers are among the most economically and socially marginalised sections and are allegedly being paid below minimum wages without benefits such as provident fund, gratuity and bonus.

It was argued that sanitation workers continue to suffer from chronic illnesses, permanent disabilities, and occupational diseases caused by repeated exposure to untreated human waste, toxic gases, contaminated water, and unsafe working conditions, which also affects their mental well-being and life expectancy.

“Exposure to these gases results in suffocation, unconsciousness, acute respiratory failure, pulmonary oedema, neurological damage, and, in numerous cases, death. Even where exposure is non-fatal, repeated inhalation causes chronic respiratory illnesses, reduced lung capacity, persistent breathlessness, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, recurrent chest infections, and irreversible damage to the respiratory system,” the plea said.  

Therefore, the petitioner said that there should be complete mechanisation of sewer and septic tank cleaning across Delhi and a prohibition on hazardous manual entry into sewers and manholes.

Criminal, departmental and civil action should be initiated against contractors, employers and public officials responsible for violations, it was submitted.

The PIL was filed through advocate Umesh Kumar.