Archive · 31 Jul 2026
Supreme Court Orders State Accountability for Sanitation Worker Deaths
The Supreme Court of India has said that the states that have the most sanitation worker deaths must explain why they are not following the law that bans manual scavenging.
The court also says the states must pay 30 lakh rupees to each worker’s family.
About 332 workers have died in the last five years.
Some states blame private companies, but the court says the state is still responsible.
Activists want the government to use machines instead of people to clean sewers and to audit the current sanitation program.
Supreme Court ordered show‑cause notices to chief secretaries of five worst‑performing states over 332 sanitation worker deaths in the last five years.
Court mandates states to pay Rs 30 lakh compensation to families of each deceased worker, even when workers were hired by private contractors.
Twelve states and union territories, including Maharashtra, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat and Rajasthan, have the highest death tolls and poor implementation of the manual‑scavenging ban.
Activist group Safai Karmachari Andolan demands a full audit of the National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem scheme and a parliamentary standing committee to enforce mechanisation.
The Supreme Court’s mandate aims to end manual cleaning, enforce mechanised sanitation, and ensure compensation for victims.
- Who
- Supreme Court, state governments, sanitation workers, activist groups
- What
- Enforcement of manual scavenging ban, compensation for victims, push for mechanisation
- When
- Last five years up to June 2026, Supreme Court order issued now
- Where
- India, including Maharashtra, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Rajasthan
- Why
- To stop deaths, enforce law, and ensure compensation
- Supreme Court Order
- Show‑cause notices to chief secretaries of five worst states
- Compensation
- Rs 30 lakh per deceased worker
- Deaths
- 332 workers in the last five years
- States with highest deaths
- Maharashtra, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Rajasthan
- Act
- Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013
- Activist group
- Safai Karmachari Andolan
- Mechanisation scheme
- National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem scheme