Dr. Balram Singh v. Union of India & Ors.

JUDGMENT S. RA VINDRA 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 m illennia 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 thei r depravation, to such levels that they were not even recognised as human beings. A mong these practices was one which generations of people, were made to perform the meanest task of manual scavenging. It was to address thi s 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 constit ution 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 pro visions, 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 thes e severe forms with stringent punishment was sought to be achieved by the Sc heduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 which was further strengthened by later amendments. In that ensur ing full economic freedom and true emancipation were two enactments, the “Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Pr ohibition) Act, 1993” (hereinafter “Act 1993”) and the “Prohibitio n of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 ” (hereinafter “Act 2013”). 1089 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 Kar amchari was established as per the provisions of National C ommission for Safai Karamchari Act, 1993 (hereinafter “NCSK Act”) to give its recommendations to Government regarding specifi c pr ogrammes for the welfare of Safai Karamcharis. In the same year, India took another signifi cant step by prohibiting the employment of m anual 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 ess ential provisions of these statutes. Regrettably, manual scavenging persists despite these legislations. Petitioner prayed that Act of 1993 and 2013 sho uld be implemented in letter and spirit and to do so, it is necessar y 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 mat ter in Safai Karamchari Andolan and Others vs. Union of India & Ors 1 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 m anner , namely: (a) such initial, one-time cash assistance, as may be prescribed; 1 (2014) 11 SCC 224 DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.] (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, sub ject to eligibility and willingness, training in livelihood skill and shal l 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 gea r 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 th e deceased. (b) Railways — Should take time-bound strategy to e nd 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 sewera ge work (manholes, septic tanks) since 1993 and award compensation 1091 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 Wate r Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, 1974; The Air (Preventi on 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 dr inking 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 DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.] (h) convert all open drains into close one and construct all drain s 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 months 2 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, st ate- wise. (III) Status of Dry Latrines and Safai Karamcharies in Cantonment Boards and Railways. 2 (pg. 17-20 of Writ Petition) 1093 (IV) Employment of Safai Karamcharies in Railways and Cantonments Boards whether directly or indirectly i.e., through Contract ors 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 concer ned 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 S ocial Justice & Empowerment (hereafter “Union”); the National Commission for Saf ai Karamcharis (hereafter “NCSK”) ; the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (hereafter “NCSC”), and the National Commission for Sched uled 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 sani tary latrines in passenger coaches and railway tracks at statio ns 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, boot s, and brooms. Additionally, this court considered the observations made by the NC SK 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 respo nse, this court observed : “[…] learned Additional Solicitor General should in dicate a practical method for the operationalization of the Central Monitoring Committee. That Committee comprises of more than 20 member s DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.] and has apparently not met for the last three years. The r ecord 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 t o alternative sources of dignifi ed employment. In other words, the aforesaid Articl es form a fundamental right to emancipation from oppressi ve structures. He contended that the emancipatory code is referrable to the preambular principle of fraternity and hence capable of horizo ntal application of fundamental rights. The 2013 Act is in furtherance of this emancipator y 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 referenc e 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 Maharashtra 3 and High Court of Karnataka in All India Council of Trade Unions v. Union of India 4 , 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) 1095 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 varyi ng at various places. He also linked the absence of institutions unde r the 2013 Act and Rules to the inadequacies of the Survey process by c ontending that when the institutions for a Survey have not been put in pla ce, 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 India 5 where this court held that the 2013 Survey was inadequate as it was confi ned only to 3546 statutory towns a nd did not extend to rural areas. This Court also held that the St ates were able to identify only a miniscule proportion of the number of people a ctually 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 th is 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 cl eaning amounts to forced labour under Article 23 of the Constitution as explained 5 2014 (4) SCR197 DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.] by this Court in People’ s Union for Democratic Rights v. Union of India 6 (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 haza rdous 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 th ere 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 Rajasthan 7 . 17. Amicus further contended that like manual scavenging, hazardous cleaning is also a practice borne out of ‘untouchab ility’ 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 cleani ng 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 1097 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 narrow est possible interpretation, given that the statute punishes untouchabil ity and inhuman labour. It was further urged that the protective gear and devi ces 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 wit h four member posts lying vacant. Furthermore, there was no commissi on 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 Committee 8 (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 Committee 9 (hereafter “SMC”) for 8 According to Section 29, the Central Monitoring Committee (CM C), consisting of the Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Chairp erson of the NCSC, Minister of State in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empow erment, Chairperson of NCSK, Secretaries of various Ministries, etc., shall be constituted. The functions of CMC, as delineated under Section 30, are- monitoring and a dvising the Central Government and State Government for eff ective implementat ion 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 DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.] some states and non-constitution of District Vigilance Committee (hereafter “DVC”) in some states as well and showed glaring incons istencies in constitution of SMCs from four diff erent sources of data. 22. Further, as per Rules of 2013 10 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 constit ute 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 THAMA TE, 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 cove rage 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© and 2(j) 1099 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. Rajappa 11 , wherein the Supreme court expanded the defi nition of industry and on X v. Principal Secretary, Heath and Family Welfare, Govt. of NCT Delhi 12 , 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 scavenge r. Examples like Bandicoot 13 , 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 mechani ze 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 rep orting on the surveys for the identifi cation of manual scavengers being done i n all districts, issuing identifi cation cards, compliance with reha bilitation requirements and holding meetings of monitoring committees at the State, district and sub-district levels. Additionally, it w as 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 mandat ory 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 DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.] sanitation infrastructure, promoting eco-friendly waste dispos al 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 memb ers, 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 sc avenging 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 in curred an expenditure of ₹10.48 Crore for conducting the survey in 2013 followed 14 (Union of India’s Note dt.12.05.2023 (V ol. 6)/ Union of Indi a’s Note dt.26.07.2023 (V ol. 5) 15 Union of India’s Note dt.26.07.2023 (V ol. 5) 1101 by payment of compensation to identifi ed manual scavengers to tune of approximately ₹ 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 ₹ 176.87 Crore was provided to identifi ed manual scavengers. The Union reported that 663 individuals h ave 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 l akhs) 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 train ing 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 Agenc y for the National Level Survey constituted under the Aegis of NITI Aayog in consultation with State Government, Central Mini stries 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 (V ol. 5) 17 Union of India’s Note dt.26.07.2023 (V ol. 5) / Union of India’s N ote dt.05.07.2023 (V ol. 7) 18 Volume 10, pg. 29, dated 9. 8.23. DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.] 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 vari ations in the number of states and districts surveyed. The apparent di screpancy 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 we re 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 manua l 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 Quest ion 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 e d at diff erent times does not necessarily represent the cu rrent 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 rehabili tation benefits in accordance with the scheme. It should not be misconstrued to mean t hat 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 (V ol. 5) 20 Union of India’s Note dt.26.07.2023 (V ol. 5) 21 Union of India’s Note dt.26.07.2023 (V ol. 5) 1103 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 wi ll 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 Repor t 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/Rura l, 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 t hat 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, s uch 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 & Emp owerment 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 (V ol. 5)/ Union of India’s Note dt.05.07.2023 (V ol. 7) 24 Union of India’s Note dt.26.07.2023 (V ol. 5)/ Union of India’s N ote dt.05.07.2023 (V ol. 7) 25 Union of India’s Note dt.26.07.2023 (V ol. 5) DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.] 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 Distric t 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 t hey have collaborated with the Defence Research and Development Organizati on (DRDO) to develop eco-friendly bio-toilets 28 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 i ssued dated 04.06.2014 30 and dated 13.10.2014 31 by order dated 26.04.2023. The Railways has also released a model contract for outsourcing cleaning services, which mandates the use of mechanized proce sses 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 Loca l Bodies to implement these measures as outlined in the 2013 Ac t. Unlike other Commissions, NSCK is neither a constitutional nor a statutory body. It does 26 Union of India’s Note dt.26.07.2023 (V ol. 5) 27 Union of India’s Note dt.26.07.2023 (V ol. 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 (V ol. 10) 30 Vide GSR 376(E) 31 Vide GSR 726(E) 32 Union of India’s Note dt.09.08.2023 (V ol. 10) 1105 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 periodi cally extended through notifi cation, with the last extension being granted from 1.4.2022 to 31.3.2025 33 . 43. Pursuant to this court’s order and provisions of 2013 Act, the NCSK has taken certain steps such as circulating 20 points check lis t, 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 ₹ 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 i n 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 27 th March 2014, compensation has been provided to 948 families of those who died while cleaning sewers/s eptic 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. DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.] Cantonment Boards to upkeep general sanitation 34 . 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 w as 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 con sider issuing some directions to all States and Union Territories to ensure that measures (establishment of an Emergency Response Sanitation U nit (ERSU), designation of a Responsible Sanitation Authority, establishment of a Helpline Number 35 , 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/Uni on Territories to fully implement the Act, including constitution of vari ous 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 sc avengers are emancipated. Chapter IV of the Act, titled ‘Identifi cation of Manual Scavengers in Urban and Rural Areas and their Rehabilitat ion’ spans from Section 11 to 16 and is an entire code in so far as rehabi litation 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 detaile d 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, V ol.3). 35 preferably 14420 36 Union of India’s Note dt.09.08.2023 (V ol. 10) 37 Union of India’s Note dt.26.07.2023 (V ol. 5) 1107 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. Ultimatel y, 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 pr ovision 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 provide d under Section 13. It envisages that a manual scavengers must be p rovided, 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 childr en of a manual scavenger, allotment of a residential plot, fi nanci al assistance for house construction, training of the manual scavenger himse lf or at least one adult member of his family, in a livelihood skill w ith a stipend of not less than ₹ 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 DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.] 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 title 38 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, w ithout 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 abs ence of a trigger cannot render the 2013 Act and its constitutional commitmen ts 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”. 1109 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 India 39 , while monitoring the implementation of the National Food Security A ct, 2013, noticed that some states were not implementing the statute. T his 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 tha n two years after the NFS Act came into force for Gujarat to im plement it and Uttar Pradesh has only implemented it partially. Th is is rather strange. A State Government, by delaying implementation of a law passed by Parliament and assented to by the Preside nt 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 Stat e 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 parliament ary statutes meant for the benefi t of vulnerable sections of society. Hopefully, someone, somewhere, sometime will realise the possi ble 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 e nactments are rendered dead-letter by executive inaction. This argument of the Union 39 (2016) 7 SCC 498 DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.] must therefore be rejected to the extent that while local governments must conduct surveys, it was for the appropriate authorities, at both t he 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 India 41 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 s o 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) 1111 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 (1 0) to (12) of Rule 11 of the Manual Scavengers Rules by publi shing 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 lis t has been prepared. Moreover, the State will have to place on record whether the District Level Survey Committees have bee n formed in all the Districts and the State Level Survey Commit tee 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 Maharashtra 42 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 Sect ion 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 t he 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) DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.] 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 2013 Survey As per 2018 Survey As per reply dt. 08.12.2021 to Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question As per reply dt.24.07.2019 to Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question Union of India’s affi davit dt. 18.04.2023 NCSK’s affi davit dt. 01.05.2023 Uttar Pradesh 12095 17828 32473 30375 32473 19712 Maharashtra 0 7298 6325 7378 ( i d e n t i f i e d none in the 2013 survey) 0 7378 Uttarakhand 137 4787 4988 4924 0 in urban areas 6033 Rajasthan 338 2590 2673 2928 N o c l e a r response 2590 Karnataka 732 1754 2927 2486 7 4 9 3 i de nt ifie d from 2013 to 2020 1754 Andhra Pradesh 78 1982 1793 2060 1 9 8 4 ( n o mention of any survey year) 1982 Bihar 137 0 131 137 No manual 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 0 62. A few comments on the data are required here. A partial survey seems to have been conducted in Karnataka in 2020 which revealed t he 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 1113 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 o n insanitary latrines. This data was provided by the cantonment boa rds 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 a re 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 a reas especially in all such areas where insanitary latrines are found. 64. The above statistics demonstrate that the numbe r 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 re ports 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 repe ated eff orts by the Government of India, the fi gures with regard to the Manual Scavengers are not forthcoming correctly. It is obser ved 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 repe ated DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.] eff orts by the Government of India, the fi gures with regard to the Manual Scavengers are not forthcoming correctly. It is obser ved 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 Manu al 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 recor ds in the “Progress Report of Survey of Manual Scavengers and thei r 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 Karamc haris for the year 2018- 19. 1115 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 Repor t 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 constitut ional 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 cleanin g 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: DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.] S. No. Institution Section/Rule 1. National Commission for Safai Karamcharis Section 3, National Commission for Safai Karamcharis Act, 1993; Given statutory functions under Section 31, 2013 Act. 2. State Commission for Safai Karamcharis Section 32, 2013 Act 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 Committee Rule 11, Prohibition Rules, 2013 68. The implementation of the statute depends on th e eff ective functioning of the aforementioned institutions. Unf ortunately, it has been seen that these institutions have not been con stituted 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 st atute. However, instead of being a check on the implementation, the lack of institutions has eff ectively brought the implementation of the Ac t to a total stand- still. This systematic neglect of the statute and i naction by the executive would reduce it to a dead letter. Each of the insti tutions 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 vita l 1117 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 NC SK must be seen. The NCSK is manned only by a Chairperson and Vice-Ch airperson and one member. It is further a matter of fact that the Commission was not even functioning in the year 2022-23. Needless to s tate, the Commission is short-staff ed by executive inaction in appointin g members to the Commission. State Commissions for Safai Karamcharis 71. In terms of the 2013 Act, at state level (by Se ction 31), all states are under a mandate to constitute State Commi ssions for Safai Karamcharis. The functions of the State Commission are identical to functions of the NCSK. The State Commissions, there fore, play an equally important role in the implementation of the Act at the State level. Repeatedly, the NCSK had noted that State Co mmissions were not constituted. In its Annual Report for the year 2 019-20, 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 t he petitioners of that State can approach these State level Commissions for redressal of their grievances and the State level Commiss ion, in turn, can take up the matter with the local authorities concerned in a more eff ective manner.” DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.] 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 Commiss ions. Nonetheless, from the tables supplied to this Court by the Union a nd 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 Ac t is the CMC constituted under Section 29 of the 2013 Act, under the chairmanship of the Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment. Th e Committee is to have various ex offi cio members including Minister of State in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Chairpe rson 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 e tc. The functions of this Committee, mandated under Section 30, are equ ally important. It is to monitor and advise the Central and State Governmen t 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 statutoril y 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: 1119 “We have heard learned counsel for the parties and are of the opinion that the learned A.S.G. should indicate a p ractical 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 the Chief Minister 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, etc. as mandated by Section 26 of the 2013 Act. Similarly, the functions of the State Monitoring Committee are also broad under Section 27. However, it has been brought to the notice of this Court that the State Monitoring Committees are inactive which is in direct contravention of the statutory mandate under Section 26 of the 2013 Act. 44 76. The data compiled by the Union and presented by the Amicus Curiae in tabular form evidences that the Committees either do not exis t or have not met in the recent past. There is no material on record to s how that steps have been taken at any stage to constitute the Commi ttees and ensure that they are working. 44 See the extracted table for easy reference DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.] State NCSK Report 2019-20 (p.90,Vol.2) Union’s affi davit dt.18.04.2023 (Vol.3) NCSK’s affi davit (p.44Vol.4) Union of India’s affi davit dt.05.07.2023 (Vol.7) Assam No information about constitution of SMC Constituted (p.180of V ol.3) No information about constitution of SMC DC: 08.08.2018 LDM: 18.07.2019 (p.18ofV ol.7) Manipur No information about constitution of SMC State may decide (p. 499 of V ol.3) No information about constitution of SMC - Meghalaya No information about constitution of SMC Constituted (p. 503 of V ol. 3) No information about constitution of SMC - Nagaland No information about constitution of SMC Under process (p. 522 of V ol. 3) Constituted - Chandigarh Constituted Only states that this relates to the Social Welfare Department (p. 846 of V ol. 3) Constituted Under action for constitution (p.28 of V ol.7) Daman & Diu No information about constitution of SMC Constituted on 24.11.2022 Constituted DC: 24.11.2022 LDM: Not given (p.31 of V ol.7) 1121 Delhi Constituted No response Constituted - Ladakh Constituted vide G.O. dated 03.02.2022 (p. 899 of V ol. 3) No information provided - Lakshawadeep Constituted Not required (p. 920 of V ol.3) Constituted - Puducherry No information about constitution of SMC No response No information about constitution of SMC DC: 16.06.2013 LDM: Not given (p.92 of V ol.7) Vigilance Committees 77. Vigilance Committees are of two types: district and sub- divisional. DVCs are mandated under Section 24(2) o f the 2013 Act and consist of the District Magistrate, MLAs of Schedul ed Castes from the district, Superintendent of Police, etc. Simila rly, the Sub-divisional Vigilance Committees are constituted under Section 24( 3) and comprise of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, CEOs of Panchayats, Sub-Divisional level Offi cer in charge of Scheduled Castes Welfare etc. The Committees are mandated to meet once in three months under Sectio n 24(4). These committees’ functions under Section 25 are to overs ee economic and social rehabilitation, coordinate the functions of all agencies to channelize adequate credit for the rehabilitation of manual scavengers and to monitor the registration of off ences and their investigation and prosecution under the 2013 Act. 78. Even though these grass-roots institutions were empowered under the Act with specifi c functions, many of the States have not even constituted the Committees and where the Committees have been constituted, they are DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.] not functional. The Amicus Curiae submitted a table to this Court presenting the state of aff airs for Vigilance Committees. This table clearly shows that the Vigilance Committees are not functional. No further data is forthcoming from the Union to contravene this position. State Date of Constitution and Last Date of Meeting State Date of Constitution and Last Date of Meeting Andaman and Nicobar DC:04.01.2019 LDM: Not given Puducherry DC:16.06.2023 LDM: Not given Assam DC:08.05.2014 LDM: Not given Punjab DC: Diff erent dates for diff erent district between 2014and 2019. LDM: Diff erent dates for diff erent district between 2018 and 2023. Chandigarh Under action for constitution Rajasthan DC:13.05.2016 LDM: No specifi c date Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman& Diu DC:20.09.2022 LDM: Not given Sikkim DC:27.11.2014 LDM: Diff erent dates for diff erent districts in2023. Goa DC: Not given LDM:06.12.2018 Tripura DC:01.03.2019 LDM: Not given as state is freeofMS Karnataka DC: Diff erent dates for diff erent district between 2014 and 2018. West Bengal DC:26.02.2014 LDM: 27.02.2023 LDM: Diff erent dates for diff erent district between 2021 and 2023. 1123 Survey Committees 79. Survey Committees under Rule 11 are to be creat ed at the State and District level. The function of the Committees is to oversee the survey process from its initiation to the publication of t he list in the respective district/state. As per the data supplied to this Co urt, the State Level Survey Committee has been constituted only in Rajas than, Karnataka and West Bengal as per the Union of India 45 . Further, District Level Survey Committee has been constituted only by Odish a. Obviously, a survey under the Act cannot take place without these Commit tees being constituted. IV . Hazardous Cleaning 80. Manual scavenging and hazardous cleaning are separately treated under the 2013 Act. A ‘Manual scavenger’ is defi ned under Section 2(g) as a: “(g) a person engaged or employed, … by an individual or a local authority or an agency or a contractor , for manual cleaning, carrying, disposing of, or otherwise handling in any manner , human excreta in an insanitary latrine or in an open drain or pit into which the human excreta from the insanitary latrines is disposed of, or on a railway track or in such other spaces or premises as the Central Government or State Government may notify, before the excreta fully decomposes in such manner as may be prescribed…” 81. A manual scavenger under the 2013 Act, therefore, is employed with respect to cleaning human excreta from an insanitary l atrine or a similar place. On the other hand, ‘Hazardous cleaning’ is defi ned under Section 2(d) as: “(d) “hazardous cleaning” by an employee, in relation to a sewer or septic tank, means its manual cleaning by such employee without the employer fulfi lling his obligations to provide protective gear and other cleaning devices and ensuring observance of safety precautions , as may be prescribed or provided in any other law, for the time being in force or rules made thereunder;” 45 Union of India’s affi davit dated 5.7.2023. DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.] ‘Septic tank’ and ‘Sewer’ are in turn defi ned under Section 2(p) and 2(q) respectively: “(p) “septic tank” means a water-tight settling tank or chamber, normally located underground, which is used to receive and hold human excreta, allowing it to decompose through bacterial activity;” “(q) “sewer” means an underground conduit or pipe for carrying off human excreta, besides other waste matter and drainage wastes; ” 82. A perusal of the defi nition would reveal that a person employed for hazardous cleaning has nexus to a sewer or septic tank. The defi nition of sewer and septic tank would reveal that they are concerned with human excreta and other wastes. It must also be noticed that hazardous cleaning is permitted if protective gear and cleaning devices are provide d. These are prescribed under the 2013 Rules. Even though bo th a hazardous cleaner and a manual scavenger deal with human excreta, the statute only penalizes hazardous cleaning and does not provide for subsequent steps for rehabilitation of hazardous cleaners. Ms. Jayna Kothari, Senior Advocate, urged that the diff erence in the treatment between manual scavenging and hazardous cleaning violates Article 14 as there is no rational diff erentiation between the two. However, this court is not faced with a challe nge to the statute in this case. Without a challenge to the provisions, the diff erentiation cannot be held unconstitutional. MECHANIZATION 83. While the statutory scheme does not provide for rehabilitation of hazardous workers, especially those who work in sewers, the constitutional underpinnings of the 2013 Act and the prohibition of untouchability must inure to their benefi t. Hazardous cleaning, like manual scaven ging, is a manifestation of untouchability, and has been abolished by the adoption of Article 17 of the Constitution. This is also evident through the Civil Rights Act, 1955 which specifi cally proscribes scavenging under Section 7A, as being an instance of untouchability. 84. To this end, the 2013 Act and Rules provide for mechanization of hazardous cleaning through ‘cleaning devices’ and ‘protective gear’ . Rule 1125 3 of the 2013 Rules beings with the words “no person shall be allowed to clean a sewer manually with the protective gear and safety dev ices under these rules except …” A scrutiny of the exceptions under the Rule reveals that the situations are only where mechanical equipment cannot be put into operation or when the sewer is not yet operational. In other circumstances, specifi c approval of the CEO of the local authority is required where he reasons that it is absolutely necessary to have manual sewage cleaning in writing with valid reasons. 85. Notably, Rule 3(2) ensures that even in the exceptional situations of removal of submersible pumps and reconstructions of the manhole, the sewage must be totally emptied. An exhaustive list of protective gear under Rule 4 and of cleaning devices in Rule 5 indicate the extent of mechanization required for hazardous cleaning. The further safeguards under Rule 6, 7 and 8 make it clear that a person must not enter the sewer or septic tank except under exceptional situations. 86. The clear purpose and intent of the 2013 Act and Rules is to ensure the mechanization of sewer and septic tank cleaning. In othe r words, the 2013 Act and Rules intends that no person should have to come in direct contact with human excreta and that protective gear an d cleaning devices must be provided to ensure this. The protective gear and cleaning devices required to be prescribed under the Rules would als o be required to be in furtherance with this purpose. That is to say, the pr escribing authority must keep in mind that the protective gear and cleanin g devices given to a hazardous cleaner ensure that he does not come into contact with human excreta. 87. The data submitted by the Union in its affi davi ts reveals a signifi cant lack of mechanization to clean sewer li nes or septic tanks. A few examples which had been raised by the Amicus Curiae pertain to Chittoor, Ongole, Mangalagiri-Tadeppalli in Andhra Pradesh, Kollam in Kerala, Gangtok in Sikkim, Nagercoil in Tamil Na du all having no machines at all, and the entirety of the cleaning i s being undertaken by hazardous cleaners. As held above, such a situation is against the statutory as well as constitutional mandate. Cleaning devices as well as protective gear must be provided to ensure that manual cleaning of sewers and septic tanks is not done. DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.] STATUS OF HAZARDOUS CLEANING UNDER ARTICLE 23 88. Article 23 of the Constitution 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. 89. At the cost of repetition, given the importance of, it would not be out of place to mention that the meaning of forced labour was discussed by this Court in People’ s Union for Democratic Rights (supra) where this Court had expanded the scope of the words and included within its sweep situations where basic dignity is violated by not adhering to the minimum wage standards. The court held that employment where minimum wage is not paid is a violation of Article 23 and an instance of forced labour. 90. Drawing from the above principles, it can be held that 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. This attains importance as the provisions for protective gear and cleaning devices are not mere statutory rights or rules, but are entitlements and it is due to these enti tlements that the provisions of the 2013 Act are in consonance with the Constitution. 91. Another consequence of this principle is that the defence of any contractor or authority that a hazardous worker had entered into a sewer or septic tank voluntarily without any protective gear or cleaning devices, would not stand constitutional scrutiny. In People’ s Union for Democratic Rights (supra),this Court explained the reasons why the alleged consent is irrelevant, in the context of minimum wages in the following words: “13. … It is therefore clear that even if a person has contra cted with another to perform service and there is consideration for such service in the shape of liquidation of debt or even remune ration he cannot be forced, by compulsion of law or otherwise, to continue to perform such service, as that would be forced labou r within the inhibition of Article 23. This article strikes at eve ry form of forced labour even if it has its origin in a contract volunta rily entered into 1127 by the person obligated to provide labour or service ( vide Pollock v. Williams [322 US 4: 88 L Ed 1095]). The reason is that it off ends against human dignity to compel a person to provide labour or service to another if he does not wish to do so, even though it be in breach of the contract entered into by him. There should be no serfdom or involuntary servitude in a free democratic India wh ich respects the dignity of the individual and the worth of the hu man person. Moreover, in a country like India where there is so much poverty and unemployment and there is no equality of bargaining power, a contract of service may appear on its face voluntar y but it may, in reality, be involuntary, because while entering into the contract, the employee, by reason of his economically helpless condition, may have been faced with Hobson’s choice, either to s tarve or to submit to the exploitative terms dictated by the powerful employer. It would be a travesty of justice to hold the employee in such a case to the terms of the contract and to compel him to serve the employer even though he may not wish to do so. That would aggr avate the inequality and injustice from which the employee eve n otherwise suff ers on account of his economically disadvantage d position and lend the authority of law to the exploitation o f the poor helpless employee by the economically powerful employ er. Article 23 therefore says that no one shall be forced to prov ide labour or service against his will, even though it be under a contract of service.”” A contract for employment of a hazardous cleaner without protective gear and cleaning devices would, similarly, violate Article 23 even if it were voluntary because such an agreement would violate human dignity. Rehabilitation of Hazardous Workers 92. The liberative nature of the statute coupled with the object of Article 17 and 23 require entitlements to be given to the families of those persons who died while working in sewers or septic tanks. This is also because the entire family would be rendered without a bread-winner. The economi c and social status of the already downtrodden and oppressed family would dwindle further. The dignity of the individual, guaranteed by law under Article 21, must be ensured through rehabilitative processes. DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.] 93. The Court cannot be blind to such a situation. In fact, it is in pursuance of this aim that this Court in Safai Karamchari (supra) granted a sum of ₹ 10 lakhs to every family where a person had died in a sew er. The Court held: “23.2. If the practice of manual scavenging has to be brought to a close and also to prevent future generations from the in human 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. 23.3. Identify the families of all persons who have died in sewerage work (manholes, septic tanks) since 1993 and award compensation 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 justic e and transformation.” 94. However, mere economic measures would not suffi ce in the upliftment of the family. Rehabilitation would require elements of long- term and short-term socio-economic measures such as scholarships, etc. To this end, this Court fi nds that entitlements which are akin to those given to manual scavengers must be granted to families of hazardous workers who had died in sewers and septic tanks. 95. In addition to the families of the hazardous workers, endeavors must be made to rehabilitate such persons who continue to be employed as hazardous workers without any protective gear or cleaning devices. States must suitably frame policies to ensure that all hazardous workers are given access to rehabilitative entitlements. Directions 96. In view of the above discussion, the following directions are issued: (1) The Union should take appropriate measures and frame policies, and issue directions, to all statutory bodies, including corporations, railways, cantonments, as well as agencies under 1129 its control, to ensure that manual sewer cleaning is completel y eradicated in a phased manner, and also issue such guidelines and directions as are essential, that any sewer cleaning wor k outsourced, or required to be discharged, by or thr ough contractors or agencies, do not require individuals to enter sewers, for any purpose whatsoever; (2) All States and Union Territories are likewise, directed to ensure that all departments, agencies, corporations and other agencies (by whatever name called) ensure that guidelines and directions framed by the Union are embodied in their own guidelines and directions; the states are specifi cally directed to ensure that such directions are applicable to all municipalities, and local bodies functioning within their territories; (3) The Union, State and Union Territories are directed 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; (4) The court hereby directs the Union and the States to e nsure that the compensation for sewer deaths is increased (given that the previous amount fi xed, i.e., ₹ 10 lakhs) was made appl icable from 1993. The current equivalent of that amount is Rs. 30 lakhs. This shall be the amount to be paid, by the conc erned agency, i.e., the Union, the Union Territory or the State as the case may be. In other words, compensation for sewer dea ths shall be ₹ 30 lakhs. In the event, dependents of any victim have not been paid such amount, the above amount shall be payable to them. Furthermore, this shall be the amount to be h ereafter paid, as compensation. (5) Likewise, in the case of sewer victims suff ering dis abilities, depending upon the severity of disabilities, compensation shall be disbursed. However, the minimum compensation shall not be less than ₹ 10 lakhs. If the disability is permanent, and renders the victim economically helpless, the compensation shall not be less than ₹ 20 lakhs. DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.] (6) The appropriate government (i.e., the Union, State or Union Territories) shall devise a suitable mechanism to e nsure accountability, especially wherever sewer deaths occur in the course of contractual or “outsourced” work. This accountability shall be in the form of cancellation of contract, forthwith, and imposition of monetary liability, aimed at deterring the practice. (7) The Union shall device a model contract, to be used wherever contracts are to be awarded, by it or its agencies and corporations, in the concerned enactment, such as the Contract La bour (Prohibition and Regulation Act), 1970, or any other law, which mandates the standards – in conformity with the 2013 Act, and rules, are strictly followed, and in the event of any mishap, the agency would lose its contract, and possibly blacklisting. This model shall also be used by all States and Union Territories. (8) The NCSK, NCSC, NCST and the Secretary, Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, shall, within 3 months from today, draw modalities for the conduct of a National Survey. The survey shall be ideally conducted and completed in the next one year. (9) To ensure that the survey does not suff er the same fate a s the previous ones, appropriate models shall be prepared to educate and train all concerned committees. (10) The Union, State and Union Territories are hereby required to set up scholarships to ensure that the dependents of sewer victims, (who have died, or might have suff ered disabilities) are given meaningful education. (11) The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) shall also be part of the consultations, toward framing the aforesaid policies. It shall also be involved, in co-ordination with state and district legal services committees, for the planning and implementation of the survey. Furthermore, the NALSA shall frame appropriate models (in the light of its experience in relation to other models for disbursement of compensation to victims of crime) for easy disbursement of compensation. 1131 (12) The Union, State and Union Territories are hereby directed to ensure co-ordination with all the commissions (NCSK, NCSC, NCST) for setting up of state level, district level committees and commissions, in a time bound manner. Furthermore, constant monitoring of the existence of vacancies and their fi lling up shall take place. (13) NCSK, NCSC, NCST and the Union government are required to co-ordinate and prepare training and education modules, for information and use by district and state level agencies, under the 2013 Act. (14) A portal and a dashboard, containing all relevant information, including the information relating to sewer deaths, and victims, and the status of compensation disbursement, as well as rehabilitation measures taken, and existing and avai lable rehabilitation policies shall be developed and launched at an early date. Conclusion “For ours is a battle not for wealth or for power . It is a batt le for freedom. It is the battle of reclamation of human personality.” 46 Dr. B. R. Ambedkar 97. If we are to be truly equal, in all respects the commitment that the constitution makers gave to all sections of the society, by entrenching emancipatory provisions, such as Articles 15 (2), 17, 23 and 24, each of us must live up to its promise. The Union and the States are duty bound to ensure that the practice of manual scavenging is completely eradicated. Each of us owe it to this large segment of our popul ation, who have remained unseen, unheard and muted, in bondage, systematically trapped in inhumane conditions. The conferment of entitlements and placement of obligations upon the Union and the States, through express prohibitions in the constitution, and provisions of the 2013 Act, mean that they are obliged to give real meaning to them, and implement the provisions in the letter and spirit. Upon all of us citizens lie, the duty of realizing true fraternity, which 46 Address at the All-India Depressed Classes Conference held at Nagpur in July 1942 DR. BALRAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.] is at the root of these injunctions. Not without reason does our Constitution place great emphasis on the value of dignity and fraternity, for without these two all other liberties are chimera, a promise of unreality. It is all of us who today proudly bask in the achievements of our republic, who have to awake and arise, so that the darkness which has been the fate of generations of our people is dispelled, and they enjoy all those freedoms, and justice (social, economic and political) that we take for granted. 98. Lastly, this court also expresses its gratitude to Amicus M r. K Parmeshwar for his valuable contribution and eff orts. List the ma tter on 01.02.2024.