Chandigarh, November 04, 2025 – The Haryana Human Rights Commission has taken suomotu cognizance of a news report published on October 20, 2025, titled “Two Workers Die After Entering Hotel’s Septic Tank.” The report stated that two workers, Somveer (resident of village Garhi) and Virender (resident of village Jamawari), employed at a hotel in Hansi, Hisar district, were forced to enter a septic tank without any protective gear after the sewer motor malfunctioned. One worker fell unconscious immediately upon entering the tank, and 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.
According to the report and the preliminary information received by the Haryana Human Rights Commission, the workers were instructed to enter the septic tank without oxygen cylinders, gas testing, or any protective equipment. The families of the deceased allege that the hotel management ignored safety standards and human dignity by forcing them into the hazardous environment.
The Full Bench of the Haryana Human Rights Commission, comprising Chairperson Justice LalitBatra and Members Kuldip Jain and Deep Bhatia, observed that under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, the right to life also includes the right to a safe, healthy, and dignified workplace. It is the legal responsibility of employers and state authorities to ensure the safety of workers from life-threatening hazards at the workplace. The Hon’ble Supreme Court, in Consumer Education & Research Centre vs. Union of India [1995 (3) SCC 42], held that the right to health and medical care is a fundamental right under Article 21 read with Articles 39(c), 41, and 43, making the lives of workers meaningful and dignified.
For workers operating in hazardous environments such as septic tanks or confined spaces, the duties of the employer include:
• Appointment of trained personnel;
• Provision of mandatory safety and breathing equipment;
• Gas testing and ventilation arrangements before entry;
• Availability of rescue teams and equipment;
• Use of mechanical or automated cleaning methods.
Violation of these safety measures amounts to treating human beings as mere instruments of labour — an act equated by the Hon’ble Supreme Court to pushing people into gas chambers.
It is also worth noting that Section 7 of the “Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013” explicitly prohibits, within one year of notification by the State Government, the employment of any person for hazardous cleaning of sewers or septic tanks by direct or indirect means. Section 9 of the Act provides penalties for violations, including imprisonment of up to two years or a fine of up to two lakh rupees, or both for the first offense, and up to five years of imprisonment or a fine of up to five lakh rupees, or both for repeat offenses. Such violations are a grave affront to human rights and the dignity of workers.
In SafaiKaramchariAndolan vs. Union of India [2014 (11) SCC 224], the Hon’ble Supreme Court issued the following directives for the eradication of the inhuman practice of manual scavenging and effective implementation of the 2013 Act:
“14. Having considered the provisions of the 2013 Act, we issue the following directions:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
(ii) Sewer deaths – entering sewer lines without safety gear should be made a crime, even in emergencies. A compensation of ₹10 lakh must be awarded to the family of every person who dies in such circumstances.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
15. Considering the above provisions, rules, and directions issued by this Court, all State Governments and Union Territories must ensure strict implementation of the Act and take necessary action in case of violations.”
The Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organization (CPHEEO), Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, in its “Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Cleaning of Sewers and Septic Tanks” issued in November 2018, provides detailed scientific and mechanical guidelines for safe cleaning. The SOP clearly states that manual entry into septic tanks is strictly prohibited except under exceptional circumstances, and even then, only with proper safety equipment and trained personnel.
The Full Bench of the Haryana Human Rights Commission, chaired by Justice LalitBatra and comprising Members Kuldip Jain and Deep Bhatia, holds that in the present case, 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.
Based on the above facts, the Full Bench finds that the Human Rights of the deceased were clearly violated and that the employer and concerned authorities failed in their constitutional and statutory duties regarding labour safety. Systemic reforms and relief to the affected families are needed to prevent recurrence of such incidents.
Dr.PuneetArora, Protocol, Information & Public Relations Officer of the Commission, stated that in view of the available facts and serious allegations, the Haryana Human Rights Commission issues the following directions:
- The Deputy Commissioner, Hisar shall submit a detailed report within six weeks on the relief, compensation, and rehabilitation measures provided or sanctioned to the families of the deceased.
- The Municipal Council, Hansi (or if the area lies outside municipal limits, the Gram Panchayat, village Rampura, Tehsil Hansi, District Hisar) shall submit a report within six weeks covering the causes of the incident, status of the hotel’s license and inspections, and violations of the 2013 Act.
- The Superintendent of Police, Hansi shall submit a report within six weeks on the FIR registered, charges invoked, and status of the investigation.
- The hotel management shall immediately prohibit manual entry into septic or sewer tanks without protective gear, gas testing, rescue arrangements, oxygen cylinders, etc., and submit a compliance report within six weeks.
All the above-mentioned are required to submit a detailed report on the points specified in the order to the Commission before the next hearing date, i.e., 17.12.2025.