Rights panel seeks report on death of 2 workers in septic tank

Taking suo motu cognisance of the death of two workers in the septic tank of a hotel in the district on October 19, the Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) has directed the DC to submit a report within six weeks on the relief, compensation, and rehabilitation measures provided or sanctioned to the families of the deceased.

It has also directed the Municipal Council, Hansi (or if the area lies outside municipal limits, the gram panchayat of Rampura village), to submit a report regarding the causes of the incident, status of the hotel’s licence and inspections, and violations of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act.

It also sought another report regarding the status of the FIR registered in the matter within six weeks. Besides, the commission directed the hotel management to immediately prohibit manual entry into septic or sewer tanks without protective gear, gas testing, rescue arrangements, oxygen cylinders, etc., and submit a compliance report. The commission sought a detailed report before December 17, the next date of hearing.

Somvir of Garhi village and Virender of Jamawari, who were employed at the hotel, were forced to enter a septic tank without any protective gear after the sewer motor malfunctioned. One of them fell unconscious immediately upon entering the tank. The other attempted to rescue him, but also lost consciousness. Both died, presumably due to exposure to poisonous gases inside the tank.

The family members of the deceased have accused the hotel management of negligence and coercion, holding it responsible for the incident.

The commission said the preliminary information stated that the workers were instructed to enter the tank without protective equipment.

The full Bench of the commission, comprising Chairperson Justice Lalit Batra and members Kuldip Jain and Deep Bhatia, said the violation of safety measures amounts to treating humans as mere instruments of labour—an act equated by the Supreme Court to pushing people into gas chambers.

It held that the hotel management failed to provide necessary safety measures, trained personnel, rescue arrangements, and mechanical cleaning systems, thereby violating the rights to life, health, safety, and dignity of the workers. “Allowing workers to operate in hazardous conditions without safety equipment is a clear violation of human rights,” it stated.