P&H HC Issue Mandatory Directions To Eliminate Manual Scavenging & Insanitary Latrines [Read Order]

Taking suo motu cognizance of news items published in the 'Sunday Tribune' on, September 29, with regards continuing practice of manual scavenging, the High Court of Punjab and Haryana on Thursday issued detailed "mandatory directions" to eliminate the twin evils of insanitary latrines and manual scavenging. The States shall provide Class IV jobs to the legal heirs of persons who died while cleaning sewers, septic tanks and manholes through employment by the Municipal Corporations, Municipalities, Nagar Panchayats or by private persons within a period of three months. bodies throughout the States shall ensure door to door collection of segregated solid waste from all households including slums and informal settlements, commercial, institutional and other non residential institutions. The States shall ensure that the Municipal Corporations and Municipal bodies frame suitable bye-laws to prohibit the ugly practice of pasting posters/pamphlets on the government/ public properties including walls, religious places, educational institutions, offices, sign boards, signage etc., within three months. The bench lastly clarified that all the Municipal Commissioners, Additional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Executive Officers, Elected Members of the Municipalities, Municipal Corporations and Panchayati Raj Institutions throughout the States of Punjab and Haryana and the UT Chandigarh shall be personally responsible to ensure that no garbage is visible within their territorial jurisdiction.