Jaipur: The Rajasthan High Court has sought an explanation from the Jaipur Municipal Corporation commissioner, the deputy commissioner of Jhotwara Zone, and the contractor concerned in connection with the death of two workers during sewerage cleaning in Jaipur.A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma and Justice Shubha Mehta passed the order on April 30 while hearing a public interest litigation filed by Snehansh Foundation.The court directed the Jaipur Municipal Corporation commissioner, deputy commissioner, and contractor to appear before the court on May 6 and submit an explanation.The petition alleged that provisions of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, were ignored in Rajasthan. It said that in major cities such as Jaipur and Jodhpur, authorities failed to effectively implement the law, resulting in repeated incidents during manual scavenging and sewer cleaning.According to the plea, on April 17, two workers were lowered into a sewer cleaning chamber and died of suffocation, despite the machines available for manhole cleaning. The incident took place in the Kardhani area of Jhotwara Municipal Corporation, where sanitation workers Ajay and Ram Babu entered a sewer line without safety equipment. Both died after inhaling toxic gas.The incident took place in the Kardhani area of Jhotwara Municipal Corporation, where sanitation workers Ajay and Ram Babu entered a sewer line without safety equipment. Both died after inhaling toxic gas.The petition further stated that sewer cleaning operations are carried out under the direction and supervision of municipal officials, making them accountable for such incidents.
