The Supreme Court of India has taken a stern stance against non-compliance with its directives aimed at eradicating manual scavenging, issuing contempt notices to the Chief Secretaries of 15 states. This action comes as a result of ongoing violations despite the Court’s previous orders to eliminate this hazardous practice.
Contempt Proceedings Ordered
A bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and Vipul M Pancholi ordered 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 must explain why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them for failing to comply with the Supreme Court’s directives.
The court’s statement was unequivocal: “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 willful 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.”
Continued Deaths Raise Concerns
The Supreme Court’s October 20, 2023, judgment contained 14 specific directions for the eradication of manual scavenging, which the Union and State governments are obligated to enforce. Despite these orders, the bench noted that fatalities during sewer and septic tank cleaning have persisted, highlighting a significant gap in compliance. Justice Kumar remarked that the directives have not adequately permeated through the relevant state mechanisms, resulting in insufficient remedial measures.
Statistics Trigger Strong Reactions
During the hearing, Senior Advocate K Parameshwar, serving as amicus curiae, informed the Court of the grim statistics: 54 deaths in 2024 and an additional 46 in 2025 across the cited states. These figures prompted the bench to engage with the legal representatives of the states, indicating that the situation is untenable.
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Justice Kumar’s comments were particularly pointed towards the states of Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, stating, “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.”
Accountability in the Capital
Delhi was also in the spotlight, with the Court questioning its representatives. The bench noted that seven deaths had occurred in 2024 and five more in 2025, leading to a show-cause notice being issued to the Delhi Chief Secretary.
The case, initiated by Dr. Balram Singh, continues to be a critical examination of state compliance with Supreme Court mandates aimed at protecting the lives of those working in hazardous conditions.
