"Machines, Protective Gears Not Being Used For Cleaning Of Drains In Prayagraj": Allahabad High Court 'Summons' DM

Taking note of the photographs depicting that no protective gears have been provided to the workers and they were still waist deep under the water for cleaning drains in the city of Prayagraj, the Allahabad High Court on Tuesday summoned the District Magistrate and Nagar Ayukt, Prayagraj.

Essentially, the Bench of Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice J. J. Munir was dealing with a suo moto PIL plea wherein the Court had taken note of a news item showing that without any protective gears, open drains were being cleaned up by the persons deployed either by the Nagar Nigam or through contractors in the district.

Earlier on May 26, the Court had issued notices to different Authorities in the State. Further, on May 31, the High Court had asked the Uttar Pradesh Government as to why the machines and protective gears were not being used for cleaning of the drains across the state.

However, on July 12, the Court perused certain photographs that were placed on record along with the application dated June 7, 2022, showing the manner in which the drains are still being cleaned.

"From the aforesaid photographs, it is evident that no protective gears have been provided to the workers and they were still waist deep under the water for cleaning of drains. Some of the drains are in open areas but still no machines were being used for cleaning of the drains, though it is claimed that Nagar Nigam has a number of machines available, which are being used for cleaning of drains," the court remarked after taking into account the pictures on the record.

The Court further noted that in the affidavit filed by Upper Nagar Ayukt dated June 13, 2022, there was no response to the aforesaid factual position placed on record by the Amicus Curiae appointed by this Court.

Under these circumstances, the Court observed thus:

"...we are constrained to summon the District Magistrate and Nagar Ayukt, Prayagraj. 5. Accordingly, the District Magistrate and Nagar Ayukt, Prayagraj are directed to appear in person in the Court on the next date of hearing."

With this, the matter was adjourned to July 25, 2022.

Importantly, on June 6, the Allahabad High Court had even directed the Uttar Pradesh Government to hand over every sanitary worker a printed pamphlet enlisting their rights and entitlements.

In this regard, the Bench of Justice Chandra Kumar Rai and Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta has asked the State Government to prepare a brief one-page pamphlet specifying the rights and entitlements of the sanitary workers and publish the same in the newspapers.

Case title - In Re Ensuring the Security of Life and Safety of Health of the workmen and employees engaged v. The Chief Secretary, Government of U.P.

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