Supreme Court issues contempt notices to 15 States for non-compliance with manual scavenging eradication orders

The Supreme Court on Monday issued contempt of court notices to the Chief Secretaries of multiple States after finding continued non-compliance with its directions to eradicate manual scavenging.  [Dr Balram Singh v. Union of India and Ors].

A Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and Vipul M Pancholi directed the Chief Secretaries of Bihar, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal to file affidavits within four weeks. They were asked to explain why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them.

"We hereby call upon the Chief Secretaries of the following States to show cause as to why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them for the wilful disobedience of the directions issued by this Court. The said reply shall be filed by way of an affidavit within a period of four weeks from today," the Court said.

The Court noted that deaths during sewer and septic tank cleaning continue despite its October 20, 2023 judgment and subsequent directions.

"The directions issued by this Court do not appear to have percolated, and sufficient remedial steps have not been taken," the Bench observed.

The order was passed in a petition filed by Dr Balram Singh seeking directions for the eradication of manual scavenging across the country.

In October 2023, the Supreme Court issued 14 directions to eliminate manual scavenging, holding that the Union and State governments are duty-bound to ensure that the practice is completely eradicated.

During today's hearing, the Bench sought details of the deaths reported after its October 2023 judgment.

Senior Advocate K Parameshwar, appearing as amicus curiae, told the Court that 54 deaths were reported in the concerned States in 2024 and another 46 in 2025.

Concerned over the figures, the Bench called upon the counsel appearing for the States.

"Who is appearing for Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu? We will summon your Chief Secretaries. We made it clear that there should be no manual scavenging, yet deaths are still occurring. Somewhere it has to stop," Justice Kumar remarked.

The Court also turned to Delhi.

"Who is appearing for Delhi? We are issuing a show cause notice to your Chief Secretary. In 2024, there are seven deaths. In 2025, there are five deaths," the Bench said.

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