Khushi Doshi
Published On: February 03, 2022 at 15:16 IST
A Bench of Bombay High Court consisting of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice V G Bisht, questioned the Maharashtra Government about when the practice of “Manual Scavenging” in the State will come to an end.
All civic bodies were asked by the Court to adopt Mechanised Scavenging practices. Additionally, the State was directed by the Court to file an Affidavit in response to a Petition filed by the daughter in law of a safai karmachari (sweeper), who died in August 2013 while on duty.
The Petitioner through Advocate Ashok Tajane claimed that Malshiras Municipal Council of Solapur District had not properly implemented the suggestions of the Lad-Page Committee established by the Government which creates posts for the heirs of the staffers, as she has not been appointed as a “Safai kamgar” after her father in law’s death.
A 1974 Lad-Page Committee Report was presented to the High Court, Additional Government Pleader Manish Pable stated that the Report recommended the eradication of Manual Scavenging and that the State is working towards it.
“Why shouldn’t all Municipal Corporations across the state stop Manual Scavenging and switch to Mechanised Scavenging?” stated the Bench, while listing the matter for a month.