DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS

Citation: 2023 INSC 950, [2023] 14 S.C.R. 1083

Court: Supreme Court of India

Bench: S. RAVINDRA BHAT AND ARAVIND KUMAR, JJ.

Judgment text

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. [2023] 14 S. C. R. 1083 : 2023 INSC 950 CASE DETAILS DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. (Writ Petition (Civil) No(s). 324 of 2020) OCTOBER 20, 2023 [S. RAVINDRA BHAT AND ARAVIND KUMAR, JJ. ] HEADNOTES Issue for consideration: Implementation of the provisions of Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 and the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993. Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 - Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993 - Directions by Supreme Court - Eradication of manual scavenging in a phased manner - Rehabilitation measures - Compensation for sewer deaths etc.

: Held: The Union should take appropriate measures and frame policies and issue directions, to all statutory bodies to ensure that manual sewer cleaning is completely eradicated in a phased manner, and also issue guidelines and directions that any sewer cleaning work outsourced, or required to be discharged, by or through contractors or agencies, do not require individuals to enter sewers, for any purpose whatsoever - States and Union Territories to ensure that all departments, agencies, corporations ensure that guidelines and directions framed by the Union are embodied in their own guidelines and directions - States to ensure that such directions are applicable to all municipalities, and local bodies functioning within their territories - The Union, State and Union Territories to ensure that full rehabilitation (including employment to the next of kin, education to the wards, and skill training) measures are taken in respect of sewage workers, and those who die - Compensation for sewer deaths shall be Rs.

30 lakhs - Compensation stated in the case of sewer victims suff ering disabilities, depending upon the severity of disabilities - Mechanism be devised to 1083 1084 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2023] 14 S. C. R.

ensure accountability, especially wherever sewer deaths occur in the course of contractual or outsourced work - A model contract to be deviced, to be used wherever contracts are to be awarded and in the event of any mishap, the agency would lose its contract, possibly blacklisting - Modalities be drawn for the conduct of a National Survey - NALSA shall be part of the consultations, toward framing the policies as directed - The Union, State and Union Territories to ensure coordination with all the commissions like National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK), State Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSC) for setting up of state level, district level committees and commissions, in a time bound manner - NCSK, NCSC, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) and the Union government to coordinate and prepare training and education modules, for information and use by district and state level agencies, under the 2013 Act - A portal and a dashboard, containing all relevant information, including the information relating to sewer deaths, victims and the status of compensation disbursement, as well as rehabilitation measures taken, and existing and available rehabilitation policies be developed and launched - Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Rules, 2013- National Commission for Safai Karamchari Act, 1993- Constitution of India- Articles 15(2), 17, 23, 24- Civil Rights Act, 1955 - Contract Labour (Prohibition and Regulation Act), 1970.

[Para 96] Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 - s. 11 - Interpretation of - Plea of the Union that s. 11 requires localized surveys by local bodies and not a national survey: Held: 2013 Act is not a regular statute, it is emancipatory in character and is a manifestation of the constitutional code of upliftment - The groundbreaking purpose of the 2013 Act is to ensure that manual scavengers are rehabilitated - Rehabilitation is a step after identifi cation - Without a survey, rehabilitation is not workable - The statutory scheme cannot be undermined through an interpretation that would leave the implementation of the 2013 Act solely with the local bodies, without any guidance from the Governments, State and Central - The Central and State Governments were and are, duty-bound to lay down the parameters under which a local body was mandated to conduct a survey - While the methodology of the Survey DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS.

1085 is provided under the 2013 Rules, the trigger for conducting the Survey is conspicuously absent from both the 2013 Rules as well as the 2013 Act - The absence of a trigger cannot render the 2013 Act and its constitutional commitments otiose by non-implementation - Local bodies must be guided by the central and state governments by laying down guidelines on when a survey must be conducted, and which local bodies must conduct a survey - Without a policy of this nature, a local body cannot be expected to implement the 2013 Act in a proper manner - while local governments must conduct surveys, it was for the appropriate authorities, at both the central and state levels, to lay down parameters for the surveys to be conducted - Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Rules, 2013 - Constitution of India - Article 17 - Civil Rights Act, 1955. [Paras 53, 54 and 56] Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 - s.

11 - Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Rules, 2013 - r. 11 - Insuffi ciency of the previous Surveys: Held: Neither the 2013 nor the 2018 surveys could have been conducted as prescribed under the scheme of the 2013 Rules and the 2013 Act for the reason that the institutions entrusted with duties to conduct the Surveys were either not constituted or were not functioning - Where the Act and Rules prescribe a particular method and manner of survey, that method and manner only ought to have been followed and no other method or manner could have been followed - No provisional list u/s. 11(4) was prepared; no objections were called for and decided u/s. 11(5) and no fi nal list was published u/s.

11(6) - In the absence of following, the contention that there was a valid survey conducted cannot be accepted - Also, this Court in Safai Karamchari Andolan case had noticed the short-comings of the survey of 2013 - Hence, when this Court had already found that the survey was insuffi cient, the Union cannot possibly rely on the same survey once again. [Paras 57, 60, 66] Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 - Short-coming in the implementation - Non- constitution of various institutions required for implementation of the Act: 1086 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2023] 14 S. C. R.

Held: A major short-coming in the implementation of the 2013 Act is the fact that the State and the Central Governments have not even constituted the various institutions required to implement the Act- Implementation of the statute depends on the eff ective functioning of the institutions like National Commission for Safai Karamcharis, State Commission for Safai Karamcharis, Central Monitoring Committee, State Monitoring Committee, Vigilance Committees, State/District Level Survey Committee - Unfortunately, these institutions have not been constituted by the States and the Union and where they have been constituted, the institutions are not functioning at all - The Act has created the institutions to ensure a check and balance on the implementation of the statute - However, instead of being a check on the implementation, the lack of institutions has eff ectively brought the implementation of the Act to a total stand-still - Functioning of each of the institutions dealt with specifi cally.

[Paras 67, 68] Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 - Manual scavenging and hazardous cleaning, separately treated under the 2013 Act - Plea that this violates Article 14 as there is no rational diff erentiation between the two: Held: This court is not faced with a challenge to the statute - Without a challenge to the provisions, the diff erentiation cannot be held unconstitutional - Constitution of India - Article 14. [Para 82] Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 - Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Rules, 2013 - rr. 3, 5 - Mechanization of hazardous cleaning through 'cleaning devices' and 'protective gear' - Exceptions - Discussed.

Constitution of India - Article 23 - Status of hazardous cleaning u/Article 23 - Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013: Held: Article 23 prohibits forced labour and makes it an off ence punishable in accordance with law - The expression 'other forms of forced labour' in Article 23 strike at all forms of labour which off end human dignity - This would include not just remuneration but would also include all labour where the absolute minimum standards of safe employment are not met - DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS.

1087 Where minimum protective gear and cleaning devices are not provided to hazardous workers, the employment of hazardous workers amounts to forced labour and is thus prohibited under the Constitution - The provisions for protective gear and cleaning devices are not mere statutory rights or rules, but are entitlements and it is due to these entitlements that the provisions of the 2013 Act are in consonance with the Constitution - A contract for employment of a hazardous cleaner without protective gear and cleaning devices would violate Article 23 even if it were voluntary because such an agreement would violate human dignity. [Paras 88, 90, 91] LIST OF CITATIONS AND OTHER REFERENCES Safai Karamchari Andolan and Others vs. Union of India & Ors. (2014) 11 SCC 224 : [2014] 4 SCR 197; Safai Karamchari Andolan v. Union of India [2014] 4 SCR 197; People's Union for Democratic Rights v. Union of India [1983] 1 SCR 456; Sanjit Roy v.

State of Rajasthan [1983] 2 SCR 271; Bangalore water Supply and Sewerage Board v A. Rajappa [1978] 3 SCR 207; X v. Principal Secretary, Heath and Family Welfare, Govt. of NCT Delhi 2022 SCC OnLine SC 1321; Swaraj Abhiyan v. Union of India (2016) 7 SCC 498; State of U. P. v. Singhara Singh [1964] 4 SCR 485 - referred to. Vimla Govind Chorotiya and Others v. State of Maharashtra 2021 SCC OnLine Bom 3002; All India Council of Trade Unions v. Union of India 2020 SCC OnLine Kar 2420 - referred to. OTHER CASE DETAILS INCLUDING IMPUGNED ORDER AND APPEARANCES CIVIL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION: Writ Petition (Civil) No. 324 of 2020. (UNDER ARTICLE 32 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA) Appearances: Petitioner-in-person Attorney General for India, Ms. Aishwarya Bhati, A. S. G. , K. Parameshwar (Amicus Curiae), Gurmeet Singh Makker, Ms. Ruchi Kohli, Ms. Shradha Deshmukh, Ms. Swarupama Chaturvedi, Himanshu Chakravarty, Ms. Ripul Swati Kumari, Ms.

Astha Sharma, Amrish Kumar, 1088 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2023] 14 S. C. R. Mrs. Ruchi Kohli, Mrs. Shraddha Deshmukh, Mrs. Swarupama Chaturvedi, Purnendu Bajpai, Mrs. Amiyavikrama Thanvi, Dr. N. Visakamurthy, Ms. Arti Gupta, Ms. Kanti, MV Mukunda, Chinmay Kalgaonkar, Ms. Anindita Pujari, Sanjay Jain, Dr. Monika Gusain, Advs. for the Respondents. JUDGMENT / ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT JUDGMENT S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J. 1.. The unforgettable annals of our history not only have charted the numerous sacrifi ces of the people who fought for independence from the foreign imperial ruler but also a lesser-known freedom that for millennia eluded a large mass of people, who were nearly invisible. They were trapped in the thralldom of a solitude from which there was no liberation. That was centuries old stigmatising social practices that led to their depravation, to such levels that they were not even recognised as human beings.

Among these practices was one which generations of people, were made to perform the meanest task of manual scavenging. It was to address this kind of social practice and with the resolve to completely out light and emancipate those trapped in it from the thralldom of bondage, that the constitution framers ensured three important provisions, which stare at us like beacons, assuring not only equality but fraternity amongst all people: the prohibition of untouchability; the outlawing of forced or involuntary labour and the freedom against exploitation. 2. To fl esh out and give shape to the objects of these provisions, Parliament intervened and enacted several legislations. The fi rst was the Civil Rights Act 1955; its provisions were amended in 1976 to outlaw the practice of untouchability.

The penalization of these severe forms with stringent punishment was sought to be achieved by the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 which was further strengthened by later amendments. In that ensuring full economic freedom and true emancipation were two enactments, the "Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993" (hereinafter "Act 1993") and the "Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013" (hereinafter "Act 2013"). DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. 1089 [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J. ] 3. The present petition is fi led under Article 32 of the Constitution of India, seeking directions to Respondents (Union of India and all the States and Union Territories) to implement provisions, inter alia, of the Act of 1993 and Act of 2013. 4.

In the year 1993, a special Commission for Safai Karamchari was established as per the provisions of National Commission for Safai Karamchari Act, 1993 (hereinafter "NCSK Act") to give its recommendations to Government regarding specifi c programmes for the welfare of Safai Karamcharis. In the same year, India took another signifi cant step by prohibiting the employment of manual scavengers responsible for the daily manual emptying of certain types of dry toilets. Subsequently, the Parliament enacted the Act of 2013 which extended and clarifi ed its scope to include insanitary latrines, ditches and pits. However, the petitioner claims that the respondents have not implemented essential provisions of these statutes. Regrettably, manual scavenging persists despite these legislations.

Petitioner prayed that Act of 1993 and 2013 should be implemented in letter and spirit and to do so, it is necessary to impose a blanket ban on manual scavenging, while simultaneously ensuring adequate rehabilitation and employment opportunities for those currently engaged in these practices. 5. This Court previously addressed this subject matter in Safai Karamchari Andolan and Others vs. Union of India & Ors1 and after analyzing the provisions of 2013 Act, issued following directions: "23. We have already noted various provisions of the 2013 Act and also in the light of various orders of this Court, we issue the following directions: 23. 1. The persons included in the fi nal list of manual scavengers under Sections 11 and 12 of the 2013 Act, shall be rehabilitated as per the provisions of Chapter IV of the 2013 Act, in the following manner, namely: (a) such initial, one-time cash assistance, as may be prescribed; 1 (2014) 11 SCC 224 1090 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2023] 14 S. C. R.

(b) their children shall be entitled to scholarship as per the relevant scheme of the Central Government or the State Government or the local authorities, as the case may be; (c) they shall be allotted a residential plot and fi nancial assistance for house construction, or a ready-built house with fi nancial assistance, subject to eligibility and willingness of the manual scavenger as per the provisions of the relevant scheme; (d) at least one member of their family shall be given, subject to eligibility and willingness, training in livelihood skill and shall be paid a monthly stipend during such period; (e) at least one adult member of their family shall be given, subject to eligibility and willingness, subsidy and concessional loan for taking up an alternative occupation on sustainable basis, as per the provisions of the relevant scheme; (f) shall be provided such other legal and programmatic assistance, as the Central Government or State Government may notify in this behalf. 23. 2.

If the practice of manual scavenging has to be brought to a close and also to prevent future generations from the inhuman practice of manual scavenging, rehabilitation of manual scavengers will need to include: (a) Sewer deaths -- Entering sewer lines without safety gear should be made a crime even in emergency situations. For each such death, compensation of Rs 10 lakhs should be given to the family of the deceased. (b) Railways -- Should take time-bound strategy to end manual scavenging on the tracks. (c) Persons released from manual scavenging should not have to cross hurdles to receive what is their legitimate due under the law. (d) Provide support for dignifi ed livelihood to safai karamchari women in accordance with their choice of livelihood schemes. 23. 3. Identify the families of all persons who have died in sewerage work (manholes, septic tanks) since 1993 and award compensation DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. 1091 [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.

] of Rs 10 lakhs for each such death to the family members depending on them. 23. 4. Rehabilitation must be based on the principles of justice and transformation.

In the present writ petition, the petitioner claims several directions such as: (a) directing the respondents to implement provisions of the Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, 1974; The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981; The Environment Protection Act, 1986, The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991; The Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993 The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 and other statutes rules and regulation pertaining to protection of environment and human health and direct respondent to (b) make provisions for underground swear /drainage system for disposal of used water and for treatment of used water in all villages towns and cities including slum areas (c) make used water reusable after treatment for use of cattle, agricultural and other purposes except for human drinking and separate ponds should be made for collecting water for human use and animals use; (d) make provisions for supply of goods, clean and un contaminated water in all villages, towns and cities and for this purpose to install big water purifi er plans so that every citizen of the country can have good and purifi ed drinking water of high quality; (e) provide for rain water harvesting system throughout the country.

It must be made a pre-requisite for raising any type of construction (f) connect all toilets with sewage system (g) install sewage treatment plants waste plants in all villages, towns and cities of the country 1092 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2023] 14 S. C. R. (h) convert all open drains into close one and construct all drains underground in further (i) provide for mechanical scavenging measures for cleaning drains and sewages lines and to stop manual immediately (j) repair roads within a prescribed period (k) fi x liabilities of government offi cer who do not follow and implement provisions for environmental protection.

They should be punished for every negligence act of non-compliance of provisions (l) pay compensation of rupees fi fty 50,00,000/- (Rupees fi fty lacs) in case any person dies while entering or after entering into sewage for cleaning it manually during pendency of this petition, (m) provide for good drinking water on demand of public in areas where there is no provision for water supply and water available is contaminated and not fi t for human use (n) repair all roads on demand of public within a period of three months2 6. On February 22, 2023, this court, inter alia , issued several directions aimed at ensuring eff ective implementation of the provisions outlined in the two acts, which is reproduced below: (I) the respondent - Union shall place on record the steps taken pursuant to the judgment of this Court, viz. -a-viz. The Status of implementation of the 2013 Act i. e.

, Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 including the steps towards rehabilitation of such persons falling within the defi nition of 'Manual Scavengers'. (II) Steps taken towards abolition/demolition of Dry Latrines, state- wise. (III) Status of Dry Latrines and Safai Karamcharies in Cantonment Boards and Railways. 2 (pg. 17-20 of Writ Petition) DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. 1093 [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J. ] (IV) Employment of Safai Karamcharies in Railways and Cantonments Boards whether directly or indirectly i. e. , through Contractors or otherwise. (V) State-wise set up of Municipal Corporation and the nature of equipment (as well as the description of technical equipment), deployed by such bodies to mechanize sewage cleaning.

(VI) The feasibility of developing internet-based solutions for real time tracking of sewage deaths and action taken by their concerned authorities including the appropriate Government towards payment of compensation and rehabilitation of families. 7. Further, this court also added as parties to the present proceedings, the Union of India through Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (hereafter "Union"); the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (hereafter "NCSK") ; the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (hereafter "NCSC"), and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (hereafter "NCST"). The court appointed Mr. K Parmeshwar, Advocate as Amicus Curie. On April 12, 2023, this court took note of two notifi cations issued by the Ministry of Railways dated 4. 6. 2014, and 13. 10.

2014 which stipulates that individuals engaged in cleaning sanitary latrines in passenger coaches and railway tracks at stations would not be subject to the prohibitions set forth in the Act of 2013 if they are provided with basic equipment such as face masks, gloves, boots, and brooms. Additionally, this court considered the observations made by the NCSK regarding the lack of action by the Railways, as presented in reports included in the compilation submitted to the court by the Amicus Curiae. In light of this, the court directed the Railways to submit a specifi c affi davit addressing these aspects. 8. During the course of proceedings, on May 2, 2023, it was brought to notice of this court about irregular functioning of the Central Monitoring Committee envisaged under the Act of 2013. In response, this court observed : "[... ] learned Additional Solicitor General should indicate a practical method for the operationalization of the Central Monitoring Committee.

That Committee comprises of more than 20 members 1094 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2023] 14 S. C. R. and has apparently not met for the last three years. The record also discloses that in the last ten years, the Committee has met seven times". 9. The Amicus submitted that Article 15, 17, 23 and 24 of the Constitution form an emancipatory Code. He submitted that the content of these fundamental rights must per force include the right for the oppressed classes to break away from oppressive structures and move to alternative sources of dignifi ed employment. In other words, the aforesaid Articles form a fundamental right to emancipation from oppressive structures. He contended that the emancipatory code is referrable to the preambular principle of fraternity and hence capable of horizontal application of fundamental rights. The 2013 Act is in furtherance of this emancipatory code, and thus attains constitutional status. 10.

After going through the scheme of the 2013 Act, the Amicus Curiae submitted that the 1993 Act as well as the 2013 Act were both made in furtherance of the right to dignity of the individual. He made reference to the emancipatory nature of the Act in its identifi cation, prohibition, criminalization of manual scavenging and the rehabilitation provisions for manual scavengers. 11. In so far as institutions created under the 1993 Act, 2013 Act and the NCSK Act are concerned, he pointed to the factual position that the most of the institutions are non/sub functional. These institutions, he submitted, are at the National, State, District and Sub-district level. 12. The Amicus Curiae submitted that the survey envisioned under the 2013 Act is inextricable from the emancipatory nature of the Act, in that without a survey there cannot be any identifi cation and rehabilitation of manual scavengers.

He submitted, with reference to the judgments of the High Court of Bombay in Vimla Govind Chorotiya and Others v. State of Maharashtra3 and High Court of Karnataka in All India Council of Trade Unions v. Union of India4, that a survey must be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the 2013 Act and the Rules made thereunder. 3 (2021 SCC OnLine Bom 3002) 4 (2020 SCC OnLine Kar 2420) DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. 1095 [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J. ] 13. The surveys conducted in 2013 and 2018, he contended, were not in accordance with the 2013 Act and Rules and thus cannot be considered as surveys. More specifi cally, he urged that the NCSK itself in its annual report has stated that till date, no reliable fi gure is available with the Government about the manual scavenging in the country and the fi gure is varying at various places.

He also linked the absence of institutions under the 2013 Act and Rules to the inadequacies of the Survey process by contending that when the institutions for a Survey have not been put in place, there is no question of a Survey being conducted in terms of the Act and Rules. To this end, he also cited the judgment of this Court in Safai Karamchari Andolan v. Union of India5 where this court held that the 2013 Survey was inadequate as it was confi ned only to 3546 statutory towns and did not extend to rural areas. This Court also held that the States were able to identify only a miniscule proportion of the number of people actually engaged in manual scavenging. 14. On the aspect of sewer deaths, he brought to the attention of this Court the defi nitions of 'hazardous cleaning' under Section 2(d) of the 2013 Act as well as the defi nitions of 'sewer' and 'septic tank' under Sections 2(p) and 2(q).

He stated that though the Act prohibits hazardous cleaning under Section 7 and 9, no specifi c bar is made to the manual cleaning of sewers and septic tanks as long as protective gear is given. To this end, he referred to Rule 3(1) of the 2013 Rules and laid stress on the words "No person shall be allowed to clean a sewer manually" to contend that the statutory scheme recognized that entry into a sewer or a manhole can only be after the sewage is totally emptied by machines. 15. It was argued that there is a legislative vacuum in so far as rehabilitation for hazardous workers is concerned. The sole rehabilitation, according to him, is by virtue of the judgment of this Court in Safai Karamchari Andolan (supra) where this Court granted compensation of Rs. 10 lakhs to the family of a person who died in a sewer. 16.

He argued that constitutionally speaking, hazardous cleaning amounts to forced labour under Article 23 of the Constitution as explained 5 2014 (4) SCR197 1096 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2023] 14 S. C. R. by this Court in People's Union for Democratic Rights v. Union of India6 (para 13-14). It was further highlighted that the Act of 2013 intends that no person should come in direct contact with human excreta and hazardous cleaning whereby as person is coerced to immerse himself in or be in contact with human excreta without protective gear/safety precautions is nothing but forced labour prohibited under Article 23. A narrow interpretation of "forced labour", restricting it to only those cases where there is lack of remuneration, is contrary the intention of Article 23. This is because such a narrow interpretation would fail to address structural discrimination and would also render the phrase "other similar forms of forced labour" otiose.

Additionally, it was further submitted that "consent" given by the worker to perform hazardous cleaning would not mean that labour is not forced. Reliance placed on People's Union for Democratic Rights (supra) followed in Sanjit Roy v. State of Rajasthan7. 17. Amicus further contended that like manual scavenging, hazardous cleaning is also a practice borne out of 'untouchability' and must be prohibited under Article 17 of the Constitution. He brought to the attention of the Court Section 7A of the Civil Rights Act, 1955, which specifi cally bars any scavenging or sweeping or any other job of a similar nature as being an enforced disability arising out of 'untouchability'. The Amicus Curiae argued that if it is accepted by the Court that hazardous cleaning is violative of Article 23, then the question of persons engaged in sewage cleaning having practiced it on their own volition does not arise. 18.

The Amicus urged that is important to note that two statutory riders empower the executive to statutorily carve out exceptions, even though they are couched as explanations: fi rst, the defi nition of "insanitary latrine" in Section 2(e) states that: "a water fl ush latrine in a railway passenger coach, when cleaned by an employee with the help of such devices and using such protective gear, as the Central Government may notify in this behalf, shall not be deemed to be an insanitary latrine. " 6 1983 (1) SCR 456 7 1983 (2) SCR 271 DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. 1097 [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J. ] Second, the explanation to the defi nition of "manual scavenger" in Section 2(1)(g) specifi es that "a person engaged or employed to clean excreta with the help of such devices and using such protective gear, as the Central Government may notify in this behalf, shall not be deemed to be a 'manual scavenger' 19.

It was submitted that these riders should be given the narrowest possible interpretation, given that the statute punishes untouchability and inhuman labour. It was further urged that the protective gear and devices referred to must be of such nature that they achieve substantial or near total mechanization of the process so that the dignity of the labourer is maintained and no structural discrimination is perpetuated. 20. Regarding NCSK's working, it was submitted that at present, it has only Chairperson, Vice-chairperson and one additional member with four member posts lying vacant. Furthermore, there was no commission in place during FY 2022-23. In terms of Section 32 of the 2013 Act, even state government are expected to notify a state commission with the same powers as that of NCSK at the state level. However, State commission for Safai Karamcharis exist in only few states. 21.

The learned Amicus also pointed out that Section 29(3) of the Act, requires the Central Monitoring Committee8 (hereafter "CMC") to meet in every six months. However, between 2013 to 2022, it met only seven times. After a gap of 3 years, CMC met for the eight time after the intervention of this court's order dated 02. 05. 2023. Similarly, the Amicus fi led data regarding non convening of State Monitoring Committee9 (hereafter "SMC") for 8 According to Section 29, the Central Monitoring Committee (CMC), consisting of the Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Chairperson of the NCSC, Minister of State in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Chairperson of NCSK, Secretaries of various Ministries, etc. , shall be constituted.

The functions of CMC, as delineated under Section 30, are- monitoring and advising the Central Government and State Government for eff ective implementation of the Act, coordinating the functions of all concerned agencies, and looking into any other matter incidental to or connected with implementation of the Act. 9 Section 26 of the 2013 Act provides for the constitution of a State Monitoring Committee (SMC) in every state consisting of the Chief Minister of State or a Minister nominated by him, the Minister-in-charge of the Scheduled Castes Welfare, representatives of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, and Safai Karamcharis, not less than two 1098 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2023] 14 S. C. R. some states and non-constitution of District Vigilance Committee (hereafter "DVC") in some states as well and showed glaring inconsistencies in constitution of SMCs from four diff erent sources of data. 22.

Further, as per Rules of 201310 with regard to creation of State Level Survey Committee (hereafter "SLSC") and District Level Committee (hereafter "DLC") responsible for overseeing the survey process till the "publication of fi nal consolidated list of the manual scavengers" in the respective district/state, it was highlighted that only Chhattisgarh and Odisha have constituted SLCs, with Odisha being the lone state to constitute a DLSC. However, the Union's affi davit dated 05. 07. 23, claims that Karnataka, Rajasthan, and West Bengal have also constituted Survey Committees, but no information is provided regarding Chhattisgarh and Odisha. 23. The Amicus summed up by suggesting that the court should direct creation of a task force under the aegis of CMC and conduct a fresh survey by relying on inadequate data under 2013 and 2018 Survey, NCSK's Annual reports fi led for the year 2015-16, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, CMC's meeting held on 05. 07.

2023 and uncertainty regarding reliable data fi led in Union's affi davit. Further to set up institutions under the Act of 2013 and Rules and take measures to identify and compensate deceased persons due to sewer cleaning. Submissions on behalf of intervenors 24. Ms Jayna Kothari learned senior counsel representing THAMATE, Centre for rural empowerment, a registered society submitted that the court to give purposive interpretation to explanation (b) of Section 2(1)(g) so as to give wide interpretation to the defi nition of manual scavenger. This interpretation would include anyone engaged in manual cleaning, whether in sewers or septic tanks, regardless of whether they use equipment or protective gear since the cleaning process is manual. This will ensure them being covered as manual scavengers for rehabilitation and relief under Section 11-16 of the Act of 2013.

It was suggested that even providing some minor protective gear such as just the gloves would exempt the coverage members of the State Legislature belonging to the Scheduled Castes, etc. Its functions, as under Section 27, are the same as those of the Central Monitoring Committee 10 Rule 11 read with Rule 2(c) and 2(j) DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. 1099 [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J. ] of that person from the defi nition of manual scavenger in the existing section. To emphasize on giving the defi nition a purposive interpretation, Ms. Kothari placed reliance on Bangalore water Supply and Sewerage Board v A. Rajappa11, wherein the Supreme court expanded the defi nition of industry and on X v. Principal Secretary, Heath and Family Welfare, Govt. of NCT Delhi12, wherein this court interpretated the provisions of Medical Termination of Pregnancy Amendment Act 2021 to include single and unmarried women. 25.

Learned counsel further emphasized on the need for mechanization and graded implementation of inclusive defi nition of manual scavenger. Examples like Bandicoot13, were provided to illustrate the potential for modern technology. It was noted that many countries have replaced the term "manholes" with "machine holes" emphasizing the signifi cance of change in language. A graded timeline was suggested to completely mechanize the process. Counsel also submitted shortcomings in schemes like Swachh Bharat Mission and NAMASTE as it is only limited to urban local bodies, second it remains silent on mechanization technology deployed by the state authorities. Lastly, some directions were also suggested such as reporting on the surveys for the identifi cation of manual scavengers being done in all districts, issuing identifi cation cards, compliance with rehabilitation requirements and holding meetings of monitoring committees at the State, district and sub-district levels.

Additionally, it was proposed that data should be segregated to specify the number of women engaged in manual scavenging. 26. The MAANGANGGO India International, NGO/Trust based in New Delhi, impleaded as intervenor prayed for the issuance of a writ or appropriate measure to direct the Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) to formulate a sustainable and time-bound Comprehensive Policy Action Plan which should include the mandatory adoption of modern technology to fully mechanize sewerage cleaning, with the declaration of manual scavenging in any form as a punishable off ense. It should also address the need for upgrading outdated and hazardous 11 [1978] 3 SCR 207 12 2022 SCC OnLine SC 1321. 13 a robot developed in 2018 1100 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2023] 14 S. C. R.

sanitation infrastructure, promoting eco-friendly waste disposal methods, ensuring compulsory free education for the children of manual scavengers, particularly girls, and providing vocational training and fi nancial incentives for the rehabilitation of manual scavengers, with a special focus on women who constitute a signifi cant portion of those aff ected by this practice. Submission on behalf of Respondents 27. This court by order dated May 2, 2023, requested the Additional Solicitor General (ASG) to propose a practical method for operationalization of the CMC. The ASG responded to that CMC did not convene for the past three years that these committees were conducted annually and last being on January 8, 2020. However, subsequent meetings could not be held due to COVID pandemic. Meanwhile, the tenure of the committee members, including those representing civil societies, have expired during this period. 14 28.

Regarding the survey, the ASG emphasized that the responsibility for conducting the survey falls under the mandate of 2013 Act. According to the provisions of this Act, the Chief Executive Offi cer of the municipality or gram panchayat is responsible for overseeing the completion of the survey. Furthermore, in accordance with the 2013 rules, a "District Level Survey Committee" chaired by the District Magistrate is tasked with monitoring and supervising the survey process at the district level. It was submitted that the 2013 Act itself does not envisage a nationwide survey of manual scavengers conducted by the central government; instead, it mandates localized surveys to be carried out by local bodies.

15 Anyhow, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has introduced the "Swachhata Abhiyaan" mobile app to allow the general public to report on insanitary latrines and any associated manual scavengers and therefore, the survey of manual scavenging is ongoing through the use of such mobile app. However, the ministry in its affi davit has stated that the app has not received credible data and the same has to be verifi ed by the concerned administration. 29. It was further submitted that the government incurred an expenditure of Rs. 10. 48 Crore for conducting the survey in 2013 followed 14 (Union of India's Note dt. 12. 05. 2023 (Vol. 6)/ Union of India's Note dt. 26. 07. 2023 (Vol. 5) 15 Union of India's Note dt. 26. 07. 2023 (Vol. 5) DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. 1101 [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J. ] by payment of compensation to identifi ed manual scavengers to tune of approximately Rs. 55. 52 Crores.

Based on survey initiated in 2013, state wise details of about 13,881 manual scavengers were prepared. 16 In addition to this, a National Survey was conducted between 2018 and 2020 in 194 districts, which resulted in identifi cation of 44,217 manual scavengers and compensation to the tune of Rs. 176. 87 Crore was provided to identifi ed manual scavengers. The Union reported that 663 individuals have lost their lives while cleaning sewers and septic tanks after the year 2013. Out of these cases, compensation has been paid in 631 cases, and FIRs have been lodged in 648 cases. 30. The Union also highlighted that, in addition to providing One-Time Cash Assistance, it had provided capital subsidies (up to 5 lakhs) along with concessional loans to 2,313 manual scavengers or their dependents. Furthermore, they have enrolled 22,294 willing and eligible manual scavengers/dependents in various skill development training programs. Other benefi ts provided by State/UTs were also listed. 17 31.

Additionally, the Union submitted about its eff orts in construction of 62. 81 lakh sanitary toilets. Furthermore, it was submitted that out of 766 districts, 650 districts have reported themselves free of manual scavenging, while reports from 116 districts regarding their status on this matter are still pending. 18 32. With regard to discrepancy in data as pointed out by Amicus, it was submitted that the National Safai Karamchari Finance and Development Corporation (hereafter "NSKFDC") was the Implementing Agency for the National Level Survey constituted under the Aegis of NITI Aayog in consultation with State Government, Central Ministries and Civil Society Organisations. It was submitted that the data pertaining to manual scavengers, as confi rmed and verifi ed by NSKFDC, is the only reliable data and should be regarded as the authoritative. According to NSKFDC's data, a total of 58,098 manual scavengers have been identifi ed in the country so far.

16 Also dealt in Union of India's Note dt. 26. 07. 2023 (Vol. 5) 17 Union of India's Note dt. 26. 07. 2023 (Vol. 5) / Union of India's Note dt. 05. 07. 2023 (Vol. 7) 18 Volume 10, pg. 29, dated 9. 8. 23. 1102 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2023] 14 S. C. R. The NCSK vide reply dated 12. 4. 2023 stated that the fi gures of total number of manual scavengers identifi ed vide National Survey 2018 conducted by NSKFDC varies with the progress of the survey mainly due to variations in the number of states and districts surveyed. The apparent discrepancy in data for 24. 07. 2021 and 08. 12. 2021 is a result of ongoing identifi cation and subsequent verifi cation processes. 19 33. Furthermore, there is no inconsistency in the information provided by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to the Parliament. On December 1, 2021, in response to Unstarred Question No.

450 in the Rajya Sabha, it was conveyed that a total of 58,098 manual scavengers were identifi ed through surveys conducted in accordance with the Act of 2013. Subsequently, in reply to another Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question no. 1254 dated 8. 12. 2021; the Government reiterated the same number of identifi ed manual scavengers. The Government informed Parliament that there were no reports of individuals currently engaged in manual scavenging across the country and that there were no reported deaths attributed to manual scavenging. However, it was clarifi ed that during the last fi ve years, 321 individuals had lost their lives in accidents while undertaking hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks. In response to Unstarred Question no. 3822 in the Lok Sabha dated 21. 12. 2021, the Government once again stated that there were no reports of individuals currently engaged in manual scavenging in the country.

The number of manual scavengers identifi ed at diff erent times does not necessarily represent the current number of individuals engaged in manual scavenging as many people have left the work of manual scavenging due to various eff orts of Govt. and provisions of Act of 2013. 20 34. It was further argued that the identifi cation of manual scavengers was primarily for the purpose of extending rehabilitation benefits in accordance with the scheme. It should not be misconstrued to mean that the increase in the number of identifi ed individuals indicates a rise in active manual scavenging activities. 21 19 Union of India's Note dt. 26. 07. 2023 (Vol. 5) 20 Union of India's Note dt. 26. 07. 2023 (Vol. 5) 21 Union of India's Note dt. 26. 07. 2023 (Vol. 5) DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. 1103 [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J. ] 35.

In response to the suggestions made by the Amicus, the Union argued against the need to establish a Task Force under the CMC as the government had formulated a Scheme of National Action for Mechanize Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE)22 which proposes to create three tier working committees (working committee, state monitoring committee and district/urban local body-level committee). These committees will meet quarterly to oversee the implementation of NAMASTE. Therefore, it was submitted that there is no requirement for a separate Task Force. 23 36. Concerning the NCSK, the Union stated that the Chairman, Vice Chairman, and one member have been appointed on 03. 03. 2023, for a term till 31. 03. 2025. Nominations are under consideration to fi ll the remaining four vacant member positions. 24 37.

In response to recommendation contained in the Annual Report of the NCSK for the year 2019-20 regarding "A National level census of Manual Scavengers at one platform in the Country at all administrative levels such as Country, State, District, Urban/Rural, Male/Female etc. " as referred by Amicus curiae, the observation made by NCSK in its annual report have been clarifi ed by the Government of India, in its Action Taken Report, wherein it has been submitted that this "does not seem to be feasible, as the basis of identifi cation of the manual scavengers should be verifi cation with reference to their workplace/employer and not merely self-declaration alone. In Census operations, such verifi cations are generally not done". 25 38. The Union informed that as on date, it received information from 34 States/Union Territories regarding the establishment of various committees mandated by the 2013 Act and Rules except the remaining 2 States (Andhra Pradesh and Telangana).

In 23 states, a State Commission for 22 A joint initiative of Department of Social Justice & Empowerment and Ministry of Housing and Urban Aff airs in all 4800+ Urban Local Bodies of the country, during the next three years up to 2025-26 23 Union of India's Note dt. 26. 07. 2023 (Vol. 5)/ Union of India's Note dt. 05. 07. 2023 (Vol. 7) 24 Union of India's Note dt. 26. 07. 2023 (Vol. 5)/ Union of India's Note dt. 05. 07. 2023 (Vol. 7) 25 Union of India's Note dt. 26. 07. 2023 (Vol. 5) 1104 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2023] 14 S. C. R. Safai Karamcharis has been established or an agency has been designated. Additionally, 26 States/Union Territories have formed State Monitoring Committees, 27 States/Union Territories have set up District Vigilance Committees, and 23 States/Union Territories have constituted Sub-division level Vigilance Committees.

26 It was further submitted that except for Karnataka and Delhi, no other State or Union Territory has reported about prosecutions under the 2013 Act. 27 39. In its affi davit dated 02. 05. 2023, Railways has outlined measures taken to eliminate manual scavenging. It was submitted that they have collaborated with the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) to develop eco-friendly bio-toilets28 for passenger coaches. As of March 31, 2023, a total of 2,99,880 bio-toilets have been installed in 84,402 coaches. Cleaning of train toilets is carried out using high-pressure jets and specifi c chemicals at designated Clean Train Stations (CTS). 29 40. Additionally, in response to concerns raised by the Amicus before this Court, the Ministry of Railways has withdrawn notifi cations issued dated 04. 06. 201430 and dated 13. 10. 201431 by order dated 26. 04. 2023.

The Railways has also released a model contract for outsourcing cleaning services, which mandates the use of mechanized processes and safety equipment for workers. 32 41. It was submitted on behalf of NCSK that it has a limited role, primarily focused on recommending measures in respect of Safai Karamcharis and pursuing State Governments and Local Bodies to implement these measures as outlined in the 2013 Act. Unlike other Commissions, NSCK is neither a constitutional nor a statutory body. It does 26 Union of India's Note dt. 26. 07. 2023 (Vol. 5) 27 Union of India's Note dt. 26. 07. 2023 (Vol. 5) 28 In these bio-toilets, the waste retention tanks are fi tted below the coach fl oor underneath the lavatories and the human waste, discharged/collected into them, is acted upon by a colony of anaerobic bacteria that convert human waste mainly into water and bio-gases (mainly Methane CH4 & Carbon Dioxide CO2).

The gases escape into the atmosphere and waste water is discharged after disinfection onto the track. 29 Union of India's Note dt. 09. 08. 2023 (Vol. 10) 30 Vide GSR 376(E) 31 Vide GSR 726(E) 32 Union of India's Note dt. 09. 08. 2023 (Vol. 10) DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. 1105 [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J. ] not have the powers to summon offi cers of the establishments concerned or have their oral evidence. Consequently, the commission is unable to assert itself eff ectively in providing relief to aggrieved Safai Karamcharis. Additionally, the commission faces challenges due to shortage of staff , with only 16 personnel responsible for all of its functions, including internal administration. 42. Since the lapsing of the NCSK Act, 1993 on 29. 2. 2004, the commission is functioning as a non-statutory temporary body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Its tenure is periodically extended through notifi cation, with the last extension being granted from 1. 4.

2022 to 31. 3. 202533. 43. Pursuant to this court's order and provisions of 2013 Act, the NCSK has taken certain steps such as circulating 20 points check list, advising states to open appropriate budget heads and allocate funds, etc. It was further submitted that due to continuous monitoring, in 167 cases of sewer deaths during FY 2022-23 till 31. 03. 2023, compensation of Rs. 10 lakhs has been paid. Commission also took Suo motu enquires, for instance, out of 19 cases of sewer deaths in FY 2022-23, cognizance was taken based on newspaper reports and paid compensation to legal heirs in 15 cases. 44. Regarding the information sought from respondents about the abolition of dry latrines, it was submitted that states are better equipped to provide details about the steps taken and achievements made in this regard.

Additionally, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment also submitted that since 1993, 1,035 individuals lost their lives due to accidents while doing hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks. In compliance with a Supreme Court order dated 27th March 2014, compensation has been provided to 948 families of those who died while cleaning sewers/septic tanks. However, there have been no reported deaths resulting from manual scavenging. 45. The Union's affi davit dated 18. 04. 2023, disclosed that there are 4478 permanent and 9897 outsourced Safai Karamcharis engaged by 33 Eff ected through Notifi cation No. N-16/5/2021-PLAN dated 3. 2. 2022. 1106 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2023] 14 S. C. R. Cantonment Boards to upkeep general sanitation34. It was further submitted that any dry latrines that existed before the implementation of the 2013 Act were dismantled and converted into sanitary latrines.

Furthermore, it was highlighted that there have been no reported incidents of sewerage-related deaths in areas managed by Cantonment Boards since the year 2013. 46. Lastly, it was proposed that this court may consider issuing some directions to all States and Union Territories to ensure that measures (establishment of an Emergency Response Sanitation Unit (ERSU), designation of a Responsible Sanitation Authority, establishment of a Helpline Number35, assurance of mechanized cleaning methods and the availability of essential safety equipment and machines at the ERSU) are in place in each district within six months from the promulgation of the Court Order. 36 Further, to issue appropriate directions to the States/Union Territories to fully implement the Act, including constitution of various committees under the Act and the implementation of the NAMASTE scheme, in order to prevent deaths resulting from hazardous cleaning. 37 Analysis and reasoning 47.

The 2013 Act not only criminalizes manual scavenging but also provides for rehabilitation mechanisms to ensure that manual scavengers are emancipated. Chapter IV of the Act, titled 'Identifi cation of Manual Scavengers in Urban and Rural Areas and their Rehabilitation' spans from Section 11 to 16 and is an entire code in so far as rehabilitation is concerned. The fi rst step towards rehabilitation that the 2013 Act makes, is the identifi cation of manual scavengers through a survey. This survey is under Section 11 for municipalities and Section 14 for panchayats. 48. The methodology [and the institutions created] to conduct the survey are provided under the 2013 Rules. The Rules provide for specifi c authorities, i. e. , the SLSC and DLSCs under Rule 11, to perform detailed roles. Under Rule 11(2), the SLSCs and DLSCs must carry out campaigns at various levels in all areas where insanitary latrines have been found. The 34 (pg. 52, Vol. 3).

35 preferably 14420 36 Union of India's Note dt. 09. 08. 2023 (Vol. 10) 37 Union of India's Note dt. 26. 07. 2023 (Vol. 5) DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. 1107 [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J. ] local authority is mandate to join hands with community leaders and NGOs working for safai karamcharis for their identifi cation as per Rule 11(3). Rule 11(4) provides for self-declaration by manual scavengers whereas Rule 11(5) allows NGOs to submit lists of manual scavengers which may be verifi ed to identify them. A house-to-house survey is mandated under Rule 11(6) to identify manual scavengers who service the insanitary latrines in any area. Overseers are appointed under Rule 11(8) to ensure that the data collected in the survey is correct. Subsequently, a list is made of the manual scavengers after inviting objections and hearings. Ultimately, the list is compiled by the DLSC.

After their identifi cation by a survey, a fi nal publication of the manual scavengers is to be published under Section 11(6). Notably, under Section 12, a person can apply to be added to the published list under Section 11. 49. On publication of the list, the emancipatory provision under Section 11(7) read with Section 6(2) takes eff ect. It declares that the manual scavengers stand discharged from any obligation to work as manual scavengers. This provision is the heart of the law - the declaration frees manual scavengers from the clutches of their historically oppressive professions. The law consequently empowers them through the process of rehabilitation. The 2013 Act, including the aforementioned provisions, therefore, must be interpreted as being in furtherance of fraternity, assuring the dignity of the individual. 50. The entitlements for rehabilitation are provided under Section 13.

It envisages that a manual scavengers must be provided, within one month, a photo identity card containing the details of dependent family members and an initial, one-time cash assistance as may be prescribed. The Act also envisages a scholarship for the children of a manual scavenger, allotment of a residential plot, fi nancial assistance for house construction, training of the manual scavenger himself or at least one adult member of his family, in a livelihood skill with a stipend of not less than Rs. 3,000 during the period of the training, a concessional loan for taking up alternative occupation, etc. 51. These rehabilitation entitlements are available only to those included in the fi nal list of manual scavengers published pursuant to a survey 1108 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2023] 14 S. C. R. under Section 11(6) or added to the list under Section 12(3) of the Act.

It must thus be emphasized that without a survey in accordance with the Act and Rules, there cannot be any further steps of rehabilitation. 52. That rehabilitation can occur only on identifi cation has not been seriously disputed by the Union. The Union however contends that (i) the 2013 Act does not contemplate a national survey but mandates a localized survey at the level of local bodies and (ii) two national surveys have already been conducted in 2013 and 2018. Interpretation of Section 11 53. The Union's contention that Section 11 requires localized surveys by local bodies and not a national survey is, facially, attractive. However, the 2013 Act is not a regular statute: it is emancipatory in character and is a manifestation of the constitutional code of upliftment. The groundbreaking purpose of the 2013 Act, as is evident from its title38 is to ensure that manual scavengers are rehabilitated. Rehabilitation, as found above, is a step after identifi cation.

Without a survey, rehabilitation is not workable. The statutory scheme cannot be undermined through an interpretation that would leave the implementation of the 2013 Act solely with the local bodies, without any guidance from the Governments - State and Central. In other words, the salutary commitment made by the 2013 Act must be fulfi lled by the local bodies in accordance with a policy-framework laid down by the Central or State Government. 54. The Central and State Governments were and are, duty-bound to lay down the parameters under which a local body was mandated to conduct a survey. While the methodology of the Survey is provided under the 2013 Rules, the trigger for conducting the Survey is conspicuously absent from both the 2013 Rules as well as the 2013 Act. The absence of a trigger cannot render the 2013 Act and its constitutional commitments otiose by non-implementation. That is to say, the implementation of the Act cannot be left to the whims and fancies of local bodies.

Local bodies must 38 The statute is titled "the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013". DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. 1109 [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J. ] be guided by the central and state governments by laying down guidelines on when a survey must be conducted, and which local bodies must conduct a survey. Without a policy of this nature, a local body cannot be expected to implement the 2013 Act in a proper manner. 55. In a similar vein, this Court in Swaraj Abhiyan v. Union of India39, while monitoring the implementation of the National Food Security Act, 2013, noticed that some states were not implementing the statute. This Court noted: "109.

It is surprising that the implementation of a law enacted by Parliament such as the NFS Act is left to the whims and fancies of the State Governments, and it has taken more than two years after the NFS Act came into force for Gujarat to implement it and Uttar Pradesh has only implemented it partially. This is rather strange. A State Government, by delaying implementation of a law passed by Parliament and assented to by the President of India, is eff ectively refusing to implement it and Parliament is left a mute spectator. Does our Constitution countenance such a situation? Is this what "federalism" is all about? Deliberate inaction in the implementation of a parliamentary statute by a State Government can only lead to utter chaos or worse. One can hardly imagine what the consequence would be if a State Government, on a similar logic, decides that it will not implement other parliamentary statutes meant for the benefi t of vulnerable sections of society.

Hopefully, someone, somewhere, sometime will realise the possible alarming consequences. " 56. The disquieting consequences referred to in the National Food Security Actcase (supra) have also manifested in the case of manual scavengers - the entire statutory scheme of the 2013 Act has been challenged as the fi rst step towards rehabilitation has not been taken. Our constitutional scheme does not approve of a situation where parliamentary enactments are rendered dead-letter by executive inaction. This argument of the Union 39 (2016) 7 SCC 498 1110 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2023] 14 S. C. R. must therefore be rejected to the extent that while local governments must conduct surveys, it was for the appropriate authorities, at both the central and state levels, to lay down parameters for the surveys to be conducted. It was also incumbent on these authorities to ensure that proper implementation of the 2013 Act had taken place.

On both counts, the Central and State Governments do not appear to have taken any steps. Insuffi ciency of the previous (2013 and 2018) Surveys 57. The second submission of the Union is that two surveys were in fact conducted in 2013 and 2018 and a continuous self-declaring survey is taking place on a mobile application. These submissions, too, are misplaced. It may be noticed that neither the 2013 nor the 2018 surveys could have been conducted as prescribed under the scheme of the 2013 Rules and the 2013 Act for the reason that the institutions entrusted with duties to conduct the Surveys were either not constituted or were not functioning. That is to say, where the Act and Rules prescribe a particular method and manner of survey, that method and manner only ought to have been followed and no other method or manner could have been followed. 58.

The principle of law that "where a power is given to do a certain thing in a certain way, the thing must be done in that way or not at all and that other methods of performance are necessarily forbidden"40 would thus apply making the 2013 and 2018 surveys inapplicable to the processes under the 2013 Act. In fact, this very fi nding was arrived at by the High Court of Karnataka in All India Council of Trade Unions v. Union of India41 where the High Court held that if a survey had been conducted without following the rigors of the 2013 Act and Rules, it would not be a valid survey in so far as the Act and Rules are concerned. It was observed: "30. Now, we fi rstly come to the survey and identifi cation of manual scavengers in urban areas. The Manual Scavengers Act which is brought into the force in the year 2013 virtually accepts that even in 21st century, manual scavenging exists and that also in urban areas. 40 State of U. P. v.

Singhara Singh, 1963 SCC OnLine SC 23: (1964) 4 SCR 485 at para 7. 41 (2020 SCC OnLine Kar 2420) DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. 1111 [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J. ] Even assuming that the Local Authorities have carried out survey in terms of Section 11, it cannot be a lawful survey unless the Local Authorities have followed the procedure under Sub-Rules (10) to (12) of Rule 11 of the Manual Scavengers Rules by publishing a fi nal list. ... 33. ... The State Government will have to also inform the Court whether District wise lists are made and whether consolidated State list has been prepared. Moreover, the State will have to place on record whether the District Level Survey Committees have been formed in all the Districts and the State Level Survey Committee has been constituted. The State Government will have to point out the details of the number of meetings held of both the Committees. " 59.

A similar direction had been passed by the High Court of Bombay in Vimla Govind Chorotiya and Others v. State of Maharashtra42 where it was held: "31. ... (iv) Respondent No. 1 i. e. State of Maharashtra in the Social Justice and Special Assistance Department shall inform the Court on the next date whether survey of manual scavenging in urban areas in terms of sections 11 and 12 of the 2013 Act and similar exercise by Panchayats in rural areas under sections 14 and 15 of the said 2013 Act have been carried out or not. " 60. This court notices that no provisional list under Section 11(4) was prepared; no objections were called for and decided under Section 11(5) and no fi nal list was published under Section 11(6). In the absence of following, the contention that there was a valid survey conducted cannot be accepted.

Yet another reason for this conclusion is that the institutions required to conduct the survey under Rule 11 were not in place and were not functioning at the relevant time in 2013 and 2018. 61. The Amicus Curiae had pointedly brought out the nature of data collected by the 2013 and 2018 surveys, which appear to be inconsistent 42 (2021 SCC OnLine Bom 3002) 1112 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2023] 14 S. C. R. and contradictory on the face of it. To this end, the table submitted by the Amicus Curiae during arguments would itself demonstrate that the data collected in 2013 and 2018 were not consistent: State As per As per As per As per reply Union of NCSK's 2013 2018 reply dt. dt. 24. 07. 2019 India's affi davit dt. Survey Survey 08. 12. 2021 to Rajya affi davit dt. 01. 05. 2023 to Rajya Sabha 18. 04.

2023 Sabha Unstarred Unstarred Question Question Uttar 12095 17828 32473 30375 32473 19712 Pradesh Maharashtra 0 7298 6325 7378 0 7378 ( i d e n t i f i e d none in the 2013 survey) Uttarakhand 137 4787 4988 4924 0 in urban 6033 areas Rajasthan 338 2590 2673 2928 No cl e a r 2590 response Karnataka 732 1754 2927 2486 7 4 9 3 1754 identified from 2013 to 2020 Andhra 78 1982 1793 2060 1984 (no 1982 Pradesh mention of any survey year) Bihar 137 0 131 137 No manual 0 scavengers f o u n d i n 2018, even though 2797 s a n i t a r y l a t r i n e s found 62. A few comments on the data are required here. A partial survey seems to have been conducted in Karnataka in 2020 which revealed the presence of 7493 manual scavengers. However, the 2013 survey stated that there were only 732 manual scavengers and the 2018 survey stated that there were 1754 manual scavengers. The exponential increase of the number DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. 1113 [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.

] of manual scavengers from 2013 to 2018 and then in 2020, considerably reduces the credibility of both the 2013 and 2018 surveys. 63. Another reason for this court's skepticism about the survey is the comparison of the survey of manual scavengers with the survey on insanitary latrines. This data was provided by the cantonment boards in pursuance of the orders of this court. The Cantonment Boards stated that they have demolished 574 insanitary latrines in Agra, 153 in Jabalpur and 12 in Jammu. However, they stated that there were no manual scavengers in their jurisdiction. By their very nature, insanitary latrines are serviced by manual scavengers. The manual scavengers which were servicing these insanitary latrines were clearly missed by the 2013 and 2018 surveys. As stated above, the survey under Section 11 read with Rule 11(2), provides that the SLSC and the DLSCs shall carry out adequate campaigns in all areas especially in all such areas where insanitary latrines are found. 64.

The above statistics demonstrate that the number of manual scavengers identifi ed in the 2013 Survey were substantially lower than the number of manual scavengers identifi ed in the 2018 Survey. Diff erent numbers have also been stated by the Government in the Rajya Sabha on diff erent dates and the Union's Affi davit before this Court. It is also unclear and inconsistent on the number of manual scavengers identifi ed. It is in this context that the anguish expressed by the NCSK in its annual reports for nearly every year since 2015-16 must be seen. In 2015-16, the stance of the NCSK was. "Identifi cation of the Manual Scavengers and their subsequent rehabilitation is the soul of the Act. However, despite repeated eff orts by the Government of India, the fi gures with regard to the Manual Scavengers are not forthcoming correctly. It is observed that diff erent fi gures are being quoted by diff erent Government and Non-Governmental agencies. ...

the Commission recommends that there is a need to have correct and authentic fi gures about the manual scavengers in the country. " In 2017-18, similarly: "Identifi cation of the Manual Scavengers and their subsequent rehabilitation is the soul of the Act. However, despite repeated 1114 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2023] 14 S. C. R. eff orts by the Government of India, the fi gures with regard to the Manual Scavengers are not forthcoming correctly. It is observed that diff erent fi gures are being quoted by diff erent Government and Non-Governmental agencies. ... the Commission recommends that there is a need to have correct and authentic fi gures about the manual scavengers in the country"" The NCSK stated in 2018-19: "Till date, no reliable fi gure is available with the Government about the manual scavenging in the country and the fi gure is varying at various places.

"43 Similarly, in its annual report for 2019-20, the NCSK stated: "The data in respect of the number of Manual Scavengers is the fi rst requisite for abolishing the practice of manual scavenging and improving their quality of life. The survey at National or in all State/UT has not been carried out for the identifi cation of manual scavengers. The Government is still not sure about the number of Male and Female Manual Scavengers as on date in the country. " 65. In fact, on 05. 07. 2023, the CMC met after directions given by this Court. In the CMC, the Deputy Advisor to the NITI Aayog yet again stated the need for a survey as, according to him, many manual scavengers were left out of the survey. At this stage, it may be noticed that this Court in Safai Karamchari Andolan (supra) had noticed the short-comings of the survey of 2013 and had observed as follows: "the Central Government announced a 'Survey of Manual Scavengers'.

The survey, however, was confi ned only to 3546 statutory towns and did not extend to rural areas. Even with this limited mandate, as per the information with Petitioner No. 1, the survey has shown remarkably little progress. State records in the "Progress Report of Survey of Manual Scavengers and their Dependents" dated 27. 02. 2014 show that they have only been able to identify a miniscule proportion of the number of people actually 43 Annual Report of the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis for the year 2018- 19. DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. 1115 [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J. ] engaged in manual scavenging. For instance, the Petitioners, with their limited resources, have managed to identify 1098 persons in manual scavenging in the State of Bihar. The Progress Report dated 27. 02. 2014 claims to have identifi ed only 136. In the State of Rajasthan, the Petitioners have identifi ed 816 manual scavengers whereas the Progress Report of the State dated 27. 02.

2014 has identifi ed only 46. 11. The aforesaid data collected by the Petitioners makes it abundantly clear that the practice of manual scavenging continues unabated. Dry latrines continue to exist notwithstanding the fact that the 1993 Act was in force for nearly two decades. States have acted in denial of the 1993 Act and the constitutional mandate to abolish untouchability. 12. For over a decade, this Court issued various directions and sought for compliance from all the States and Union Territories. Due to eff ective intervention and directions of this Court, the Government of India brought an Act called "The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013" for abolition of this evil and for the welfare of manual scavengers. The Act got the assent of the President on 18. 09. 2013.

The enactment of the aforesaid Act, in no way, neither dilutes the constitutional mandate of Article 17 nor does it condone the inaction on the part of Union and State Governments under the 1993 Act. What the 2013 Act does in addition is to expressly acknowledge Article 17 and Article 21 rights of the persons engaged in sewage cleaning and cleaning tanks as well persons cleaning human excreta on railway tracks. " 66. Hence, when this Court had already found that the survey was insuffi cient, the Union cannot possibly rely on the same survey once again. III: Institutions 67. A major short-coming in the implementation of the 2013 Act is the fact that the State and the Central Governments have not even constituted the institutions that are required to implement the Act. A list of institutions required to be constituted under the Act are under: 1116 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2023] 14 S. C. R. S. No. Institution Section/Rule 1.

National Commission for Safai Section 3, National Commission Karamcharis for Safai Karamcharis Act, 1993; Given statutory functions under Section 31, 2013 Act. 2. State Commission for Safai Section 32, 2013 Act Karamcharis 3. Central Monitoring Committee Section 29, Prohibition Act, 2013 4. State Monitoring Committee Section 26, Prohibition Act, 2013 5. Vigilance Committees Section 24, Prohibition Act, 2013 6. State Level Survey Committee Rule 11, Prohibition Rules, 2013 7. District Level Survey Rule 11, Prohibition Rules, 2013 Committee 68. The implementation of the statute depends on the eff ective functioning of the aforementioned institutions. Unfortunately, it has been seen that these institutions have not been constituted by the States and the Union and where they have been constituted, the institutions are not functioning at all. The Act has created the institutions to ensure a check and balance on the implementation of the statute.

However, instead of being a check on the implementation, the lack of institutions has eff ectively brought the implementation of the Act to a total stand- still. This systematic neglect of the statute and inaction by the executive would reduce it to a dead letter. Each of the institutions is dealt with more specifi cally below- National Commission for Safai Karamcharis 69. The NCSK is a statutory commission which was created under the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis Act, 1993. Under this Act, the Commission was to function only till 1997. However, on amendments and executive instructions, the Commission remained functional till 2013. Section 31 of the 2013 Act, thereafter, bestowed certain powers and functions on the NCSK which are to be fulfi lled by it. Therefore, though the NCSK Act, 1993 does not envisage a longer term for the NCSK, by virtue of the 2013 Act, the NCSK must remain functional. The NCSK discharges vital DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. 1117 [S.

RAVINDRA BHAT, J. ] functions: it is to monitor the implementation of the 2013 Act; to enquire into complaints regarding the contravention of the Act; to advise the Central and State Governments for eff ective implementation of the Act; and to take suo motu notice of matter relating to non-implementation of the Act. The non-functioning of the NCSK would therefore paralyze the implementation of the Act. 70. It is in this light that the position of the NCSK must be seen. The NCSK is manned only by a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson and one member. It is further a matter of fact that the Commission was not even functioning in the year 2022-23. Needless to state, the Commission is short-staff ed by executive inaction in appointing members to the Commission. State Commissions for Safai Karamcharis 71. In terms of the 2013 Act, at state level (by Section 31), all states are under a mandate to constitute State Commissions for Safai Karamcharis.

The functions of the State Commission are identical to functions of the NCSK. The State Commissions, therefore, play an equally important role in the implementation of the Act at the State level. Repeatedly, the NCSK had noted that State Commissions were not constituted. In its Annual Report for the year 2019-20, the National Commission report that persons are approaching the NCSK because of the lack of State Commissions. It stated: "The Commission understands that separate State Commissions for Safai Karamcharis exist in very few States. In the absence of State level Commissions in other States, the petitioners from far off corners of the country are forced to take up their grievances with the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis. This, besides being inconvenient for the petitioners, also overburdens the National Commission.

If there is State level Safai Karamchari Commission in every State, then the petitioners of that State can approach these State level Commissions for redressal of their grievances and the State level Commission, in turn, can take up the matter with the local authorities concerned in a more eff ective manner. " 1118 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2023] 14 S. C. R. 72. The court was appraised that during the pendency of this case, the NCSK and the Union of India submitted affi davits regarding the position of constitution of State Commissions. The Amicus Curiae points out that the affi davits reveal glaring inconsistencies in the data for constitution of the State Commissions. The lack of precise data due to the inconsistencies means that there is no clarity regarding the constitution of these Commissions. Nonetheless, from the tables supplied to this Court by the Union and the Amicus Curiae, it is clear that very few States have dedicated Commissions for Safai Karamcharis.

In fact, the data submitted by the Union of India also shows that the Commissions which have been constituted are neither functioning nor even meeting regularly. The implementation of the 2013 Act is wanting for the lack of institutional support from the State Commissions as well. Central Monitoring Committee 73. A vital institution for the implementation of the Act is the CMC constituted under Section 29 of the 2013 Act, under the chairmanship of the Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment. The Committee is to have various ex offi cio members including Minister of State in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Chairperson National Commission for Scheduled Castes, Chairperson, NCSK, Member of Planning Commission dealing with development of Scheduled Castes, 3 MPs from SC communities, Secretaries of 7 ministries etc. The functions of this Committee, mandated under Section 30, are equally important.

It is to monitor and advise the Central and State Government regarding the implementation of the 2013 Act and to coordinate the functions of all concerned agencies. The 2013 Act also empowers the Committee to look into any other matter incidental to or connected with the implementation of the Act. The broad and sweeping powers of the Committee demonstrate its importance. 74. Regrettably, though the Committee is statutorily mandated to meet once in six months under Section 29(3), it is seen that the Committee met after a gap of three years on 05. 07. 2023 after a direction from this Court on 02. 05. 2023. The Order passed by this Court is reproduced for clarity: DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. 1119 [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J. ] "We have heard learned counsel for the parties and are of the opinion that the learned A. S. G. should indicate a practical method for the operationalization of the Central Monitoring Committee.

That Committee comprises of more than 20 members and has apparently not met for the last three years. The record also discloses that in the last ten years, the Committee has met seven times. ... This Court is of the opinion that the A. S. G. should, therefore, obtain instructions with regard to the practical method to be undertaken by State Committees and other agencies, created by the Act, for survey, identifi cation and complete operationalization of the Act. The A. S. G. may indicate also the time lines for this purpose. " The CMC being a central governmental authority which coordinates and monitors the implementation of the 2013 Act, must be proactive. The implementation of the 2013 Act enacted duly and empowering a downtrodden section of the society cannot be left unrealised, and especially not due to executive inaction. State Monitoring Committees 75. The State Monitoring Committees, like the CMCs, have a number of ex offi cio members such as th