Introduction:

The tragic death of Sridhar, a manual scavenger forced to work without protective gear in 2000, became the subject of a critical judgment by the Madras High Court in 2025. The court directed the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewage Board (CMWSSB) to compensate Sridhar’s family with ₹10 lakh, following the Supreme Court’s precedent in Safai Karamchari Andolan v. Union of India. Justice Bharatha Chakravarthy emphasized societal insensitivity towards sanitation workers and held the authorities accountable for neglecting their duties.

Arguments of Both Sides and Court’s Judgment:

Sridhar, employed by a contractor under the CMWSSB, lost his life while clearing an underground sewer without safety equipment. His father, Kannaiyan, initially sought compensation through the Deputy Commissioner of Labour in 2002. However, the claim was dismissed repeatedly for default, demonstrating institutional apathy. Advocate Prabhakar Reddy, representing Kannaiyan, argued that the system failed to prevent Sridhar’s illegal employment in manual scavenging and urged leniency towards the family’s plight. The authorities, however, supported the Deputy Commissioner’s dismissal of the case, citing procedural lapses.

The court criticized the Deputy Commissioner for a mechanical approach and the authorities for forcing the bereaved family to seek legal recourse. Justice Chakravarthy remarked that manual scavenging, despite its prohibition, continues to claim lives due to societal indifference. Citing the Supreme Court’s ruling mandating ₹10 lakh compensation for sewer cleaning deaths, the court emphasized that the authorities should have promptly compensated Sridhar’s family and initiated proceedings against the contractor. The court stressed that societal disregard for sanitation workers’ safety equates to a collective failure, likening the maintenance of sewers to the upkeep of vital arteries in the human body.

Justice Chakravarthy ordered the CMWSSB to compensate Sridhar’s dependents immediately and allowed the authorities to recover the amount from the contractor, if necessary. The judgment serves as a powerful reminder of the urgent need to eradicate manual scavenging and uphold the dignity of sanitation workers.