NHRC Urges States to Implement Supreme Court’s Directives to End Manual Scavenging

New Delhi- The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India, has called for the immediate implementation of 14 directives issued by the Supreme Court in its 2023 judgment (Dr. Balram Singh v/s Union of India, 2023 INSC 950) to eradicate the caste-based and inhuman practice of manual scavenging and hazardous sewer cleaning.

In a letter to Chief Secretaries and Administrators of all States and Union Territories, the NHRC emphasized that the continued practice violates fundamental human rights, including the right to life with dignity and equality before the law.

Despite constitutional safeguards, legal protections, and a Supreme Court ban on manual scavenging in six major cities—Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad—announced on January 29, 2025, the NHRC noted that manual cleaning of hazardous waste persists in parts of the country.

To address this, the NHRC has recommended immediate measures, including widespread dissemination of the prohibition and judicial directives among stakeholders such as local authorities, contractors, and the public. It also called for sensitisation programmes for government officials, sanitation workers, and communities to highlight the legal, social, and human rights dimensions of manual scavenging.

The NHRC further stressed the need for robust monitoring systems to ensure real-time compliance and deterrence, alongside regular follow-ups and review mechanisms to track progress, identify gaps, and ensure accountability at all levels.

Authorities have been directed to submit action taken reports within eight weeks to demonstrate compliance with the Supreme Court’s directives.