Allahabad High Court Disposes PIL For Protection Of Sanitation Workers Amid Covid-19 With Directions To Approach Govt Authorities

A Division Bench comprising of Chief Justice Govind Mathur and Justice Piyush Agrawal disposed of the petition by keeping the Petitioner at liberty to approach the competent authorities of the Government of India as well as the State of Uttar Pradesh.

The Petitioner had drawn the Court's attention towards a technical brief issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), containing interim guidance relating to personal protection of Safai Karamcharies/ sanitation workers/ scavengers.

It was urged that such workers need 'complete protection' as they are more likely to be exposed to Covid-19 virus.

The Bench however noted that the Petitioner had proceeded on a 'presumption' that in the State of Uttar Pradesh, the protection suggested must have not been extended. Further, it observed that no details had been given about any sanitation worker who had been infected.

Be that as it may, having considered the documents annexed with the writ petition and the guidelines prescribed by different bodies in relation to extension of protection to vulnerable persons, the Bench deemed it appropriate to dispose of the writ petition with liberty to the Petitioner to approach the competent authorities of the Government of India as well as the State of Uttar Pradesh for getting protection guidelines executed in accordance with the protocol introduced and the Statute & law, if any, applicable.

It said, "The petitioner, if approaches the authorities concerned, the suggestions given shall be considered objectively".

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Earlier this year, the Supreme Court also disposed of a PIL seeking directions to States, their municipal authorities and local self-government authorities to ensure protection of the right to life of safai karamcharis/sanitation workers who are essential service providers in wake of the national lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic.

SC Records Centre's Submission That WHO Guidelines On Sanitation Workers Are Being Followed; Disposes PIL

The petition was disposed of after the Central Government assured that such persons were being provided PPE kits and that WHO guidelines were being 'meticulously followed'.

Case Title: Mukul Choudhary v. Union of India & Anr.

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