New Delhi: 12th March, 2014

The National Human Rights Commission has held the Delhi Development Authority, DDA, responsible for the death of Rampal and injuries to Dharamvir, for asking them to clean a manhole without protective gears. It has recommended Rs. 3 lakh as monetary relief to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs.25 thousand to the injured man and asked the Chief Secretary, Government of NCT of Delhi to submit a proof of payment within six weeks.

The Commission took cognizance of the incident suo motu and registered a case No. 4233/30/0/2011 on the basis of media reports that Rampal, aged 45 years and his colleague, Dharamvir, 40 years - both Safai Karmacharis with the MCD - were sent to clear a sewer in Sector - 18, Rohini in the National Capital on the 8th August, 2011, without safety equipment. They had to be dragged out with the help of a rope and were taken to a nearby hospital where doctors declared Rampal as brought dead and the condition of Dharamvir was found to be stable.

During the course of enquiry, the Commission found that a Junior Engineer of the DDA had been arrested and charge sheeted in the matter under whose supervision the cleaning of the sewer was done. The victim were on the pay roll of the DDA. Therefore, the Commission did not find the plea of the DDA that the manhole in question was under the jurisdiction of the Delhi Jal Board and hence it was not responsible for the incident.

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