Death Due To Manual Scavenging- Apathy Exhibited By DDA Is Egregious: HC Directs Vice Chairman Of DDA To Appear

The Delhi High Court has directed the Vice Chairman of the Delhi Development Authority to appear in the matter involving the death of two people in the sewer earlier this year. The Court also noted that the compensation was not paid to the family of deceased persons.

The bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad observed that "It is an admitted fact that till date, the compensation amount of Rs.10,00,000/- that was to be given to the family of both deceased persons has not been paid by the DDA. The Vice-Chairman, DDA, is also not present today for reasons best known to him. There is also no application filed for his exemption for personal appearance in the matter. The apathy exhibited by DDA, in the instant matter, is egregious in the opinion of this Court."

Senior Advocate Rajsekhar Rao was the Amicus Curiae. Municipal Corporation of Delhi was represented by Standing Counsel Ajjay Arorra, Standing Counsel Santosh Kumar Tripathi appeared for the Government of NCT of Delhi and Standing Counsel Shobhana Takiar represented DDA.

In this case two persons namely Ashok Gulia and Rohit passed away during the cleaning of the manhole in the outer Mundka area after they had inhaled toxic gases.

Following this, the Court directed DDA to pay a sum of Rs.10,00,000/- each to the family of Ashok Gulia and Rohit, and also directed to consider the claim for grant of compassionate appointment in terms of the Statutory provisions and the Judgment passed by the Supreme Court.

The Court had directed the Vice-Chairman, DDA to be present before it on the next date of hearing in the event of non-compliance of the Order.

The Court observed that the DDA did not file any documents after the Order dated October 6, 2022 was passed by the Court.

Thus, the Court directed the Vice-Chairman, DDA, to be present in the Court on November 15, 2022 and to file an affidavit keeping in view the Order dated October 6, 2022 passed by the Court.

Cause Title- Court on its own motion v. Municipal Corporation of Delhi and Ors.

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