Manual Scavenger Deaths Can Invite up to 10 Years in Prison

The Delhi government said people who employ manual scavengers will be booked under Section 304 in case they die.

The Delhi government on Monday said people who employ labourers for manual scavenging will now be booked for culpable homicide in case of their death.

(Photo: Erum Gour/The Quint)

The Delhi government on Monday, 24 September, said people who employ labourers for manual scavenging will now be booked for culpable homicide in case of their death, The Times of India reported.

The decision was made after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal chaired a meeting of the state-level monitoring committee for prohibiting employment under Manual Scavengers Act, 2013.

State Social Welfare Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam said the employer will face charges under IPC Section 304, which pertains to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, and not 304A (death due to negligence).

For Section 304, a jail term can extend up to 10 years, while Section 304A brings only up to two years in prison.

This step comes in the wake of several manual scavenger deaths reported in the capital recently.

Gautam said the Delhi CM has also instructed all district magistrates (DMs) to complete surveys in their areas to identify manual scavengers and take steps to rehabilitate them and employ them in civil defence, the Hindustan Times reported.

Gautam added that districts where the survey finds no manual scavengers will have to conduct the survey again.

(With inputs from The Times of India and Hindustan Times)