Making it clear that government cannot absolve itself of its responsibility on compensating scavengers who die of asphyxiation while cleaning septic tanks and manholes in privately-owned buildings, the Madras High Court on Tuesday directed it to recover the amount from persons so liable.
The first bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana, gave the direction on a PIL filed by an NGO 'Change India'.
The bench said Additional Advocate General P H Aravind Pandian had pointed out that there were about 16 such cases where deaths have occurred but no compensation had been paid, though these persons were capable of bearing the expenses.
"In this behalf, we are of the view that if that be so, it does not absolve the state government from making the payment and the state government, in turn, would recover the amount from the persons so liable.
The bench was passing further interim orders on a PIL seeking a direction to the government to pay adequate compensation to the victims and to provide necessary gadgets to workers entering manholes and septic tanks.
