The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday issued notices to Tamil Nadu government and state police over the reported death of three persons while working at a septic tank.
Taking suo motu cognizance of the media reports that three workers died after inhaling toxic fumes while doing patch-up work on a newly constructed septic tank in a village under Cuddalore district on May 13, the Rights body has issued notices to the state Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, and the Commissioner of local Nagar Palika of Cuddalore district calling for a detailed report with in four weeks.
The NHRC said it has asked to mention the measures that the State government has already taken or likely to be taken to prevent such gross violation of human rights of innocent people, who undertake this type of hazardous sewage cleaning related works without any mechanical device and precautions.
The Rights body also directed to inform about the status of the FIR, if any, registered due to an act of negligence of Nagar Palika/ local government for not spreading awareness among the people about the immediate danger of hazardous cleaning without using safety gear/equipment in the matter and compensation, if any, given to the next of kin of the deceased persons.
The Commission has observed that the content of the media reports, if true, amount to a violation of the human rights of the victims.
