NHRC notices to the Chief Secretary, DGP, Tamil Nadu, and Commissioner, Cuddalore Nagar Palika over the reported death of three persons while working at a septic tank

New Delhi, 17th May, 2023

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, India has taken suo motu cognizance of the media reports that three workers died after inhaling toxic fumes while doing patch-up work on a newly constructed septic tank in a village under Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu on 13th May, 2023.

The Commission has observed that the content of the media reports, if true, amount to a violation of the human rights of the victims. Accordingly, it has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, Government of Tamil Nadu, and the Commissioner of local Nagar Palika of Cuddalore district calling for a detailed report with in four weeks by explicitly mentioning the measures that the State government has already taken or likely to be taken to prevent such gross violation of human rights of innocent people, who undertake this type of hazardous sewage cleaning related works without any mechanical device and precautions.

The authorities are also directed to inform about the status of the FIR, if any, registered due to an act of negligence of Nagar Palika/ local government for not spreading awareness amongst the people about the immediate danger of hazardous cleaning without using safety gear/equipment in the matter and compensation, if any, given to the Next of Kin of the deceased persons.

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