Dr. Balram Singh v. Union of India & Ors.

ITEM NO.30 COURT NO.10 SECTION PIL-W

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

Writ Petition(s)(Civil) No(s). 324/2020

DR. BALRAM SINGH Petitioner(s)
VERSUS
UNION OF INDIA & ORS. Respondent(s)

ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR INDIA AND MR. K. PARAMESHWAR, ADVOCATE (AMICUS CURIAE)
IA No. 146249/2023 - APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION
IA No. 197406/2026 - APPROPRIATE ORDERS/DIRECTIONS
IA No. 263173/2025 - CLARIFICATION/DIRECTION
IA No. 114186/2025 - CLARIFICATION/DIRECTION
IA No. 105648/2025 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING C/C OF THE IMPUGNED JUDGMENT
IA No. 294185/2025 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T.
IA No. 261890/2025 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T.
IA No. 127085/2025 - INTERVENTION APPLICATION
IA No. 136950/2023 - INTERVENTION APPLICATION
IA No. 19363/2024 - INTERVENTION/IMPLEADMENT
IA No. 131385/2023 - INTERVENTION/IMPLEADMENT
IA No. 124685/2025 - INTERVENTION/IMPLEADMENT
IA No. 163036/2025 - PERMISSION TO FILE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS/FACTS/ANNEXURES
IA No. 30602/2020 - PERMISSION TO FILE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS/FACTS/ANNEXURES
IA No. 233707/2026 - PERMISSION TO FILE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS/FACTS/ANNEXURES
IA No. 65478/2026 - PERMISSION TO FILE APPLICATION FOR DIRECTION
WITH
W.P.(C) No. 823/2025 (X)
FOR EXEMPTION FROM PERSONAL APPEARANCE ON IA 18468/2026
IA No. 18468/2026 - EXEMPTION FROM PERSONAL APPEARANCE
W.P.(C) No. 905/2025 (PIL-W)
FOR EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T. ON IA 237094/2025
FOR EARLY HEARING APPLICATION ON IA 237098/2025
FOR DELETING THE NAME OF PETITIONER/RESPONDENT ON IA 258721/2025
FOR ADDITION / DELETION / MODIFICATION PARTIES ON IA 271769/2025
FOR impleading party ON IA 271841/2025
FOR INTERVENTION/IMPLEADMENT ON IA 271841/2025
FOR EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T. ON IA 295722/2025
IA No. 258721/2025 - DELETING THE NAME OF PETITIONER/RESPONDENT
IA No. 237098/2025 - EARLY HEARING APPLICATION
IA No. 295722/2025 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T.
IA No. 237094/2025 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T.
CONMT.PET.(C) No. 259/2026 in W.P.(C) No. 823/2025 (X)
FOR EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T. ON IA 89437/2026
FOR PERMISSION TO FILE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS/FACTS/ANNEXURES ON IA 212223/2026
IA No. 89437/2026 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T.
IA No. 212223/2026 - PERMISSION TO FILE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS/FACTS/ANNEXURES

Date : 28-10-2026 These matters were called on for hearing today.

CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ARAVIND KUMAR
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VIPUL M. PANCHOLI

Mr. K Parameshwar, Sr. Adv. (Amicus Curiae) Ms. Raji, Adv. Mr. Prasad Hegde, Adv. Mr. Sai Kaushal Nathulapati, Adv. Mr. Adit Garg, Adv. Mr. Vallari K N, Adv.
For Petitioner(s) : Mr. Manish Tiwari- 3172 , AOR Mr. Pawan Reley, AOR Mr. Akshay Lodhi, Adv. Mr. Gaurav Kumar, Adv. Ms. Simran Singh, Adv. Mr. Tanish Rawat, Adv. Ms. Aradhya Agarwal, Adv. Mr. Prakhar Agarwal, Adv. Petitioner-in-person
For Respondent(s) : Ms. Aishwarya Bhati, A.S.G. Ms. Madhulika Upadhyay, AOR Ms. Ruchi Kohli, Adv. Ms. Astha Singh, Adv. Mr. Chitrangda Rashtravara, Adv. Mr. Anmol Chandan, Adv. Mr. Akshay Amritanshu- 3121, AOR Mrs. Aishwariya Bhati, A.S.G. Mr. Gurmeet Singh Makker, AOR Ms. Ruchi Kohli, Adv. Ms. Shradha Deshmukh, Adv. Mr. Rohan Gupta, Adv. Mr. Madhav Sinhal, Adv. Mr. Raman Yadav, Adv. Ms. Swati Ghildiyal, AOR Mr. Nimesh Bhatt, Adv. Mr. Adarsh Bubey, Adv. Ms. Disha Singh- 3175 , AOR Mr. Shivjee Rawat, Adv. Mr. Hira Singh Rawat, Adv. Ms. Eliza Barr, Adv. Ms. Akansha, Adv. Ms. Anjali Saxena, Adv. Ms. Govind Sharma, Adv. Mr. Saanil Patnayak, Adv. Mr. Azmat Hayat Amanullah- 2758, AOR Ms. Rebecca Mishra, Adv. Mr. Abhay Anil Anturkar, Adv. Mr. Dhruv Tank, Adv. Mr. Sarthak Mehrotra, Adv. Ms. Surbhi Kapoor, AOR Mr. Uday Gautam, Adv. Ms. Aradhya Srivastava, Adv. Mr. Nakul Patwardhan, Adv. Ms. Deepanwita Priyanka- 2618, AOR Mr. S. Biswal, Adv. Mr. Lokesh Sinhal, A.A.G. Ms. Anindita Mitra, AOR Ms. Srishti Ghoshal, Adv. Mr. Shantanu Sagar- 2058, AOR Mr. Anil Kumar, Adv. Mr. Gunjesh Ranjan, Adv. Mr. Prakash Kumar Mangalam, Adv. Mr. Manoneet Dwivedi, Adv. Mr. Abhishek Kumar Gupta, Adv. Ms. Anshala Verma, Adv. Mr. Ankur Agraj, Adv. Ms. Ishani Shrivastava, Adv. Mrs. Divya Mishra, Adv. Mr. Kunal Vajani, A.A.G. Mr. Guneet Sidhu, Adv. Mr. Amitoj Chadha, Adv. Mr. Sanchit Garga, AOR Mr. Shashwat Jaiswal, Adv. Ms. Diksha Arora, Adv. Mr. Bhanu Pratap Singh, Adv. Ms. Oorja Goel, Adv. Mr. Pashupathi Nath Razdan- 2054, AOR Mr. Aaditya Aniruddha Pande- 3259, AOR Mr. Siddharth Dharmadhikari, Adv. Mr. Shrirang B. Varma, Adv. Mr. Sourav Singh, Adv. Ms. Chitransha Singh Sikarwar, Adv. Mr. Avijit Mani Tripathi- 2648, AOR Mr. Shaurya Sahay, Adv. Mr. Z H Isaac Haiding, Adv. Mr. Daniel Stone S Lungdoh, Adv. Ms. Marbiang Khongwir, Adv. Ms. Preeti Sehrawat, Adv. Ms. Nupur Kumar- 3078, AOR Mr. Sadiq Noor, Adv. Mr. Shiv Mangal Sharma, A.A.G. Mr. Saurabh Rajpal- 3577, AOR Ms. Shalini Singh, Adv. Mr. Sameer Abhyankar- 2516, AOR Mr. Aakash Thakur, Adv. Mr. Aryan Srivastava, Adv. Mr. Krishna Rastogi, Adv. Mrs. Haripriya Padmanabhan,aag, Sr. Adv. Ms. Jayasree Narasimhan, AOR Mr. R. Sarbeshvaran, Adv. Mr. Siddheesh Yadav, Adv. Ms. Indumugi, Adv. Mr. Prasanna S.- 2919, AOR Ms. Injila Muslim Zaidi, Adv. Mr. Maamidi Ashish Reddy, Adv. Mr. Prasanna B, Adv. Ms. Ishita Tulsyan, Adv. Mr. Tanmaya Agarwal, AOR Mrs. Aditi Agarwal, Adv. Mr. Muhammad Nomaan Khan, Adv. Mr. Jayesh Sharma, Adv. Ms. Astha Goel, Adv. Ms. Sanjana Saddy- 3231, AOR Mr. Aman Chaudhary, Adv. Mr. Bhuvan Kapoor, Adv. Mr. Varun Chugh, Adv. Mr. Vatsal Joshi, Adv. Mr. Krishna Kant Dubey, Adv. Ms. Mrinal Elker Mazumdar, Adv. Ms. Indira Bhakar, Adv. Mr. Mukesh K Verma, Adv. Mr. Shashwat Parihar, Adv. Mr. Harish Pandey, Adv. Mr. Piyush Beriwal, Adv. Mr. Vinayak Sharma, Adv. Mr. Shreekant Neelappa Terdal, AOR Ms. Aishwarya Bhati, A.S.G. Ms. Ruchi Kohli, Adv. Ms. Shradhha Deshmukh, Adv. Mr. Aman Shukla, Adv. Ms. B.L.N. Shivani, Adv. Ms. Ameyavikrama Thanvi, Adv. Mr. Amrish Kumar- 2986, AOR Dr. N. Visakamurthy- 3411, AOR Mr. Brijender Chahar, A.S.G. Mr. Kamal Digpaul, Adv. Mr. Yashraj Bundela, Adv. Mr. Amit Sharma-B, Adv. Mr. Anmol Chandan, Adv. Mr. S.N.Terdal (AOR), Adv. Mr. Praveen Swarup- 1227, AOR Mr. Praveen Swarup, Adv. Mr. Rohit Swarup, Adv. Mr. Ravi Kumar, Adv. Ms. Payal Swarup, Adv. Mr. Kamaljit Singh Ranot, Adv. Mr. Praharsh Chaudhary, Adv. Mr. Aman, Adv. Ms. Mini Gangadharan, Adv. Mr. Devesh Maurya, Adv. Ms. Rashmi Nandakumar, AOR Ms. Yashmita Pandey, Adv. Mr. Anand Sanjay M. Nuli, Sr. Adv. Ms. Akhila Wali, Adv. Mr. Abhishek Kanyalur, Adv. Mr. Ashritsai P. Torgal, Adv. Ms. Tanya Chhillar, Adv. M/S. Nuli & Nuli- 2021, AOR Mr. Ashish Wad, Adv. Mr. Manoj Wad, Adv. Ms. Swati Arya, Adv. Mr. Deepanshu Verma, Adv. M/s J S Wad And Co, AOR Ms. Nandini Sen Mukherjee- 2199, AOR Mr. Kunal Chatterji, AOR Ms. Maitrayee Banerjee, Adv. Mr. Varij Nayan Mishra, Adv. Mr. Piyush Dwivedi- 2658, AOR Ms. Richa Kapoor- 1517, AOR Mr. Arnav Mehta, Adv. Ms. Tripti Sharma, Adv. Ms. Vanshaja Shukla, AOR Mr. Siddhant Yadav, Adv. Dr. N. Visakamurthy- 3411, AOR Mr. Brijender Chahar, A.S.G. Mr. Kamal Digpaul, Adv. Mr. Yashraj Bundela, Adv. Mr. Amit Sharma-B, Adv. Mr. Anmol Chandan, Adv. Mr. S.N.Terdal (AOR), Adv. Mr. Sanjay Jain- 1299, AOR Attorney General For India Mr. Pawan Reley, AOR Mr. Akshay Lodhi, Adv. Mr. Gaurav Kumar, Adv. Ms. Simran Singh, Adv. Mr. Tanish Rawat, Adv. Ms. Aradhya Agarwal, Adv. Mr. Prakhar Agarwal, Adv. Mr. Sarim Naved, Adv. Mr. Saurabh Sagar, Adv. Mr. Zeeshan Ahmed, Adv. Mr. Mohammad Nouman, Adv. Ms. Sugandha Anand- 3167, AOR Ms. Abiha Zaidi- 3474, AOR Mr. Pukhrambam Ramesh Kumar, AOR Mr. Karun Sharma, Adv. Ms. Rajkumari Divyasana, Adv.

UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following

[NyayVidhan note: this order is recorded in the record of proceedings; there is no separate signed order. Paragraphs 1-3 carry the Court's numbers. The sub-items of paragraph 1, the State headings of paragraph 2, the items quoted from the Amicus Curiae's note and the order's own paragraphs within each State are shown on their own lines. The lists of counsel are given on one line each (the Amicus Curiae team, the petitioner side and the respondent side). The digital-signature block (dated 30.10.2026) and page numbers are left out. The order's own wording is kept as printed.]

[Source: Supreme Court of India, www.sci.gov.in — order dated 28 October 2026.]

O R D E R

1. I A No. 233707/2026
(i) This Court by judgment dated 20.10.2023, amongst other directions, issued at paragraph no. 96(11) had issued a direction to the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) that it would be part of consultation in evolving a Scheme for disbursement of compensation to the victims of sewer/septic tank deaths. Accordingly, a Scheme has been formulated which is appended in Annexure A-1 to the present application and it is stated that said Scheme has been formulated, prepared and also approved by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
(ii) Even after complete planning of man-less scavenging by the Order dated 20.10.2023 (supra) passed by this Court, instances of sewer/septic tank deaths have sporadically occurred across the nation. As such, the compensation, as ordered by this Court, requires to be paid, disbursed to the victims or their legal heirs. For the effective implementation of the same, the present Scheme is said to have been formulated and there being no resistance or objection received till date for the said Scheme, we deem it apt and appropriate to approve this Scheme as formulated, which is henceforth called and referred to as “Model for Compensation to Sewer and Septic Tank Sanitation Workers Scheme 2026”.
(iii) The learned standing counsel appearing for NALSA shall file a report after four months about the manner, mode and method in which the Scheme is being operated upon and highlight the shortfalls or pitfalls, if any, for necessary and appropriate directions being issued by this Court.
(iv) With the aforesaid observations, the Interlocutory Application stands disposed of.
(v) It is needless to state that effective implementation of the Scheme, as envisaged thereunder, which is pursuant to the direction issued by this Court, would be effectively implemented by all the concerned persons including the Deputy Commissioner/District Collector of each district of the State and it is made clear that any infraction thereof, would be viewed seriously by this Court.
Accordingly, I.A. No.233707/2026 stands allowed.

2. On account of continuous non-compliance of the direction issued by this Court in the judgment dated 20.10.2023, certain directions came to be issued in which each of the States was directed to file the compliance affidavit. The learned Amicus Curiae has placed a note 28.10.2026 and narrated in detail the compliance affidavits filed by the 15 States, as indicated in paragraph 2 of the note, which are being detailed with State wise as under:
State of Bihar
It has been brought to the notice of the Court that sewer/septic tank deaths which had occurred on 11.04.2023, no steps seems to be forthcoming as to the initiation of any criminal prosecution against the concerned persons. At this juncture, the learned counsel appearing for the State of Bihar submits that she would ascertain as to what steps have been taken pursuant to the Fard Byan and the five member committee’s report and file an affidavit in that regard.
NCT of Delhi
Compliance affidavit has been filed by the Chief Secretary, NCT of Delhi, which reflects that compensation has been paid in full to 121 claimants out of 131 cases. The learned counsel appearing for the State of Delhi would further submit that even in respect of six claimants, the amount has been paid. Thus taking a total tally to 127. He would hasten to add that in respect of claim related to remaining cases, the legal heirs remain to be traced and a public notice has been published to ascertain whereabouts of the legal heirs of the deceased and also jurisdictional SDMs have been intimated. Hence, placing his submission on record and granting liberty to file additional affidavit narrating the steps taken pursuant to the registration of the FIR, the matter stands adjourned.
State of Goa and Gujarat
The affidavits of State of Goa and State of Gujarat would indicate that pursuant to clarification issued by this Court, all the claimants have been paid the compensation as ordered on 20.10.2023. The said affidavits are placed on record.
State of Haryana
The additional affidavit dated 27.10.2026, according to the learned Amicus Curiae, would reflect that partial compliance for payment of compensation and following compliance are pending district wise:
“i. Hisar: As per the table provided in the Affidavit dated 09.09.2026, 2 deaths were stated to have occurred in the district of Hisar (S.3-Jagat Singh on 18.10.2012 & S.29-Mehraban on 18.07.2026), however, payment status has only been disclosed with respect to the case of Jagat Singh (Sr No.3), (Para 8, Additional Affidavit dated 27.10.2026) and the payment status of Mehraban (Sr. No.29) has not been shared.
ii. Hansi: In the affidavit dated 02.09.2026, compensation for the death of Sh. Shyama who passed away on 22.04.2008, was shown as "under process" (Page 27, Affidavit dated 02.09.2026). However, the status of this case was omitted from subsequent affidavits dated 09.09.2026 and 27.10.2026. Accordingly, its payment status is not known.
iii. Sonepat: Out of the 9 cases identified in the table produced in the Additional Affidavit dated 09.09.2026, sanction orders for all cases have been mentioned, however, the actual status of payment disbursal has not been provided. The Additional Affidavit dated 27.10.2026 mentions that an amount of Rs. 1,88,52,000, representing compensation for sewer death victims, was credited to the account of the Deputy Commissioner, Sonepat on 01.09.2026 and that no part of this amount has been disbursed. The Deputy Commissioner, Sonepat has repeatedly sought basic identification and banking particulars of the legal heirs from the Public Health Engineering Department, which remain unfurnished till date. The Affidavit does not specify the number of deceased persons/cases to which this sum relates. (Para 9 and Annexure R/5, Additional Affidavit dated 27.10.2026).
iv. Palwal: As per the Additional Affidavit dated 27.10.2026 and the Additional Affidavit dated 09.09.2026, compliance with respect to payment of compensation towards, 2 out of the 5 cases (Sh. Siyaram and Late Sh. Radhey Adiwasi Rs. 22,50,000 each), remains pending solely for verification of legal heirs, whose families reside in Hardoi (U.P.) and Gwalior (M.P.) respectively. Deputy Commissioner, Palwal has written to the concerned District Magistrates for verification, and payment is stated to follow immediately on receipt of their reports. (Para 6, Additional Affidavit dated 27.10.2026)
v. Faridabad: As per the table provided in the Additional Affidavit dated 09.09.2026, 6 deaths occurred in the district of Faridabad, wherein compensation was pending. As per the Additional Affidavit dated 27.10.2026, compensation has been fully disbursed in only 3 cases. (Para 7 and Annexure R/3, Further Additional Affidavit dated 27.10.2026) However, with respect to the pending 3 cases, (Sr.3 -Joginder passed away on 11.06.2026; Sr.27 - Aakash passed away on 09.06.2026 & Sr. 28-Anmol passed away on 09.06.2026), no proof of payment or status of disbursal of compensation has been shown. (Page 10, Additional Affidavit dated 09.09.2026)
vi. Death of Ajay @ Bholu (Hathin Mandi) - As per the table provide in the Additional affidavit dated 09.09.2026, at Sr. No. 16, the death of Ajay @ Bholu is mentioned to have occurred on 12.04.2024 at Grain Market, Hathin Mandi. However, the district where the death has occurred has not been mentioned. Accordingly, the status of the payment of compensation to his family has not been shared as of yet. (Sr. 16, Page 9, Additional Affidavit dated 09.09.2026)”
The learned Sr. Additional Advocate General appearing for the State of Haryana would submit that there has been certain omissions in collating the statistics and same would be rectified and an additional affidavit would be filed. His submission and undertaking is placed on record.
We hereby direct the State of Haryana to file an additional affidavit not only disclosing such omissions but also indicating thereunder the FIRs which have been filed and steps which have been taken pursuant to registration of the FIRs and the stage in which the said criminal prosecution is at. The said exercise shall be undertaken within a period of four weeks from today.
State of Jharkhand
The learned Amicus Curiae submits that there has been compliance and no other issue is there which requires to be complied with. His submission is placed on record.
State of Karnataka
An affidavit dated 25.08.2026 has been filed and it is pointed out by the learned Amicus Curiae that in respect of death of two persons namely Mr. Ravi Kumar and Mr. Dilip Kumar Jana on 04.02.2023, compensation of Rs.10 Lakhs has been paid to the dependents. However, the dates on which the said compensation has been paid is not forthcoming. The dates of payment would be relevant for the reason, this Court by order dated 20.01.2026 has clarified that in the event of compensation having not been paid as on the date of order dated 20.10.2023, in such circumstances the State and its instrumentalities would be required to pay a sum of Rs.30 Lakhs. The State shall file an affidavit disclosing the date on which compensation of Rs.10 Lakhs were paid to these two persons.
In respect of the claim arising out of the death of Mr. Ravi Kumar, a compensation of Rs. 30 Lakhs is said to have been deposited before the High court in WP No. 4140/2025 and by DD bearing no. 487285 dated 05.08.2026. The said amount shall be disbursed to the legal heirs or dependents of Ravi Kumar by the High Court by issuing a cheque forthwith, excluding the amount already paid, if any.
In respect of the deaths of Mr. Shashikumar and Mr. Kammara Anand on 23.12.2023, there seems to be writ petition 815/2024 pending before the High Court of Karnataka namely the direction issued by the National Commission for Safai karamcharis Commission has been challenged in the said writ petition and interim order has been passed on 08.01.2024 for payment of Rs. 10 Lakhs only and stayed the demand letter. This court having clarified on 20.01.2026 that the compensation requires to be paid or disbursed even in respect of deaths that occurred prior to 20.10.2023, if not already paid or disbursed and these two orders seems to have not been brought to the notice of the High Court.
As such, the State Governments through their standing counsel shall bring it to the notice of the High Court the Order passed by this Court to enable the High Court to pass appropriate order modifying its earlier orders so that the order dated 20.10.2023 as clarified on 20.01.2026 would be effectively implemented. It is also made clear that in the circumstances where either the State or its instrumentalities have directed any private party to pay the compensation amount, as ordered by this Court, even in such circumstances it would be incumbent upon the State or its instrumentalities to pay the compensation to the victims or claimants as the case may be and seek to recover the same from those persons who were or are responsible for sewer/septic tank deaths.
State of Madhya Pradesh
Though the affidavit dated 03.09.2023 would disclose that compensation has been paid in all the six cases where the deaths have occurred, yet the said affidavit lacks details of the reasons for criminal prosecution not having been initiated against the concerned persons. The learned Amicus Curiae would also hasten to add that State of Madhya Pradesh would disclose the steps taken namely the details of the prosecution which was initiated against the concerned persons.
Hence, we hereby call upon the learned standing counsel for the State of Madhya Pradesh to file an affidavit detailing the steps taken to register the FIR. The said affidavit shall be filed within four weeks from today.
State of Maharashtra
The affidavit dated 22.08.2026 would indicate since 1993, 109 sewer/septic tanks deaths have occurred out of which in respect of 104 cases criminal prosecution has been lodged. Though, remaining 5 cases no criminal cases have been registered but compensation have been paid. It is further stated that compensation have been paid to the legal heirs in 100 cases and the details of the unpaid/inadequate payments of compensation are as under:
“i. Akshay Mandal (Mumbai Suburban, died 12.11.2025): It is stated that compensation of Rs. 10 lakhs has already been paid by the Raj Grandeur CHSL to the legal heir, and that BMC directed payment of Rs. 30 lakhs as compensation vide letter dated 13.11.2025. In compliance thereof, it has been reported that Rs. 10 lakh has already been paid to the legal heirs and the remaining compensation of Rs. 20 lakh is under follow-up with the concerned Society. Thus, as on date. the balance amount of Rs. 20 lakh remains pending. (Sr.2, Page 1, Brief Note on behalf of State of Maharashtra dated 06.10.2026)
ii. Sachin Chavan, Vishal Subhash Jadhav, and Sagar Rangrao Mali (Sangli, died 28.12.2025): An office letter dated 11.02.2026 directed the Assistant Commissioner, Sangli, to pay Rs. 30 lakhs as compensation out of which Rs. 10 lakh has already been paid to each deceased person's legal heirs. However, status of payment of the remaining compensation to the concerned legal heirs is not known. (Sr.3, Page 1, Brief Note on behalf of State of Maharashtra dated 06.10.2026)
iii. Vikas Kishan Tak and Chandan Ratanlal Deswal (Raigad, died 31.12.2024): The Zilha Parishad, Raigad, directed payment of Rs. 30 lakhs vide letter dated 03.12.2025. The matter is stated to be pending before the High Court of Bombay (WP No. 35362/2025). However, status of payment of the remaining compensation to the concerned legal heirs is not known. (Sr.4, Page 2, Brief Note on behalf of State of Maharashtra dated 06.10.2026)
iv. Amol Anant Ghatal, Nikhil Anant Ghatal, Sagar Sunil Tandulkar, and Shubham Suryakant Parkar (Palghar, died 09.04.2024): The Collector, Palghar, vide letter dated 18.11.2025, communicated that a total of Rs. 25 lakhs has been deposited and distributed equally among the legal heirs of the deceased workers. Resultantly, the legal heirs of each deceased have only received Rs. 6.25 lakh in compensation. The Brief Note does not address whether the full Rs. 30 lakhs per deceased has been disbursed. Compliance remains incomplete. (Sr.5, Page 2, Brief Note on behalf of State of Maharashtra dated 06.10.2026).”
A perusal of the above note would indicate that compensation, as ordered by this Court, seems to have not been paid and before initiating any action for contempt, we deem it apt and appropriate to extend one more opportunity to the concerned persons to pay or disburse the compensation amount as ordered by this Court expeditiously and at any rate within an outer limit of four (4) weeks from today, failing which the State shall show cause as to why contempt proceedings should not be initiated for non-compliance of the directions issued by this Court on 20.10.2023 and as clarified on 20.01.2026.
State of Punjab
The learned Amicus Curiae would state that in respect of three deaths relating to Mr. Sarvan Kumar, Mr. Ghanai and Mr. Monu, compensation has not been paid.
However, learned counsel appearing for the State would submit that compensation has been ordered to be paid by the private hospitals where the deaths have occurred. However, we reiterate that the order passed by this court is explicit and it has been clearly ordered that in the event of victims or claimants entitlement to compensation on account of sewer/septic tank deaths, it is the State and its instrumentalities which are required to pay the same and seek to recover the same from the concerned persons.
As such, within an outer limit of four weeks an affidavit shall be filed indicating thereunder the details of payments that have been made by the private hospitals or the State having made such payments and proof of same shall accompany the said affidavit. The said affidavit shall be filed in four weeks from today.
State of Rajasthan
The affidavit dated 03.09.2026 would indicate that compensation has been paid in all 26 cases of deaths. However, it requires to be noted that 10 deaths reported in the year 2023, had occurred prior to the passing of the judgment dated 20.10.2023. The moot question would be whether compensation of Rs.10 Lakhs paid to the dependents or legal heirs of the persons who died prior to the judgment, were in fact paid to the compensation prior to 20.10.2023? If yes, there would be no requirement of paying any further compensation. However, if compensation has been paid subsequent to 20.10.2023, it is needless to state that balance compensation of Rs.20 lakhs requires to be paid and this has been clarified already by our order dated 20.01.2026.
In view of the same, the State of Rajasthan is called upon to file additional affidavit disclosing the actual date of disbursement of payment to the 10 deaths reported in the year 2023 viz. which deaths had occurred prior to the passing of judgment dated 20.10.2023.
State of Telangana
In respect of death of P Suresh, who was engaged by a private educational institution, a sum of Rs.4 Lakhs is said to have been paid. Though the jurisdictional Tahsildar has placed a Demand Notice on the educational institution, the fact remains that balance Rs.26 Lakhs is yet to be paid to the claimants.
Our orders recorded hereinabove is clear and we call upon the State of Telangana to pay the said compensation within an outer limit of four weeks and recover the same from the concerned persons in accordance with law and a compliance affidavit to this effect shall be filed within four weeks from today.
State of West Bengal
Affidavit dated 04.09.2022 filed by the State of west Bengal would indicate that compensation, as ordered by this Court, is said to have been paid. Insofar as deaths that have occurred in Kolkata, Bantala on 02.02.2025, and death of Jayanta Ghosh on 24.09.2025 relates to disputed question of fact, or in other words, it is contended that death was not on account of sewer/septic tank cleaning but was on account of construction workers laying sewer line. As such, it is contended that claimants are not entitled to claim compensation as ordered by this Court on 20.10.2023. We have not expressed any opinion in this regard and claimants or dependents of the deceased would be at liberty to work out their rights in accordance with law before appropriate forum.
State of Uttar Pradesh
The affidavit of the State of Uttar Pradesh dated 04.09.2026 would disclose there is compliance of the order passed by this Court on 20.10.2023.

3. List these matters on 02.12.2026.

(RASHI GUPTA) AR-CUM-PS
(AVGV RAMU) COURT MASTER (NSH)