Chandigarh, April 27 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court has held the Union of India and Military Engineering Services (MES) accountable for the death of a sewer supervisor, directing them to pay Rs 30 lakh in compensation to the victim’s family.
The court’s decision came after Pargat Singh, a sewer supervisor, lost his life while cleaning sewage lines at the Air Force Station in Barnala, without proper safety equipment. Singh’s wife, Amandeep Kaur, had filed a petition seeking justice.
Justice Kuldeep Tiwari ruled that Singh’s death was a direct result of the failure to implement the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and the Rehabilitation Act of 2013.
The law, aimed at preventing manual scavenging, mandates safety measures for workers involved in such hazardous tasks.
“Two valuable lives have been lost again due to the non-implementation of this law,” Justice Tiwari said.
The court also expressed frustration at the authorities’ negligence, noting that the MES had not ensured adherence to the safety provisions laid out in the 2013 Act or the contractual agreements that required the contractor to provide safety equipment.
“The lives were lost due to the blatant disregard for both the Act and the contract,” Justice Tiwari added.
The court directed that Rs 30 lakh be paid to Singh’s legal heirs, with 60 percent going to his wife and minor daughter.
The remaining amount is to be distributed to Singh’s parents. The compensation must be paid within two months, with interest accruing at 9 percent per annum after the deadline.
Besides, MES has been permitted to recover the compensation from the contractor or officials involved in the case.
This ruling notes the ongoing risks faced by workers in manual scavenging jobs and the failure of authorities to enforce laws designed to protect them.
