Orissa HC expresses shock over manual drain cleaning, orders CMC to use machines
'This court expects that the inhuman methodology resorted to would be stopped immediately and efforts shall be made to undertake the drain cleaning activities by deploying technologically advanced drain cleaning machines,' the bench of Justices SK Sahoo and V Narasingh, which is dealing with PILs on civic issues in Cuttack city, said.
The court took note of media reports on how labourers, even minor boys, are engaged in the daunting task of clearance of wastes, deposits and sewage from the storm water channels and big drains in the city.
While they enter the drains without proper safety gear or safety measures, no CMC staff is monitoring the operations, thereby endangering the lives of the workers.
The bench observed, 'Needless to say, ensuring the health and safety of labourers is crucial for productive outcome. This involves implementing measures to prevent work-related injuries, diseases and hazards. When the labourers are used to clean the big drains manually, it very often leads to hazardous conditions and can lead to injuries or fatalities due to toxic fumes and coming in contact with sharp objects like broken glasses, metals and spikes besides poisonous snakes in the water bodies.'
Accordingly, the bench ordered the CMC to finalise a plan of action to streamline the cleaning process of the drains by adopting suitable machines and training of manpower and place it in the court during on the next date on July 7.
The bench also directed CMC to make sure there is no violation of the provisions of Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act in their operations.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
.jpg%3Fw%3D1200%26ar%3D40%253A21%26auto%3Dformat%252Ccompress%26ogImage%3Dtrue%26mode%3Dcrop%26enlarge%3Dtrue%26overlay%3Dfalse%26overlay_position%3Dbottom%26overlay_width%3D100&w=3840&q=100)
New Indian Express
23 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Leniency for convicts, misuse of UAPA draw flak at CPI conference
PATHANAMTHITTA: In a strong critique of the state home department, the district conference of the CPI in Pathanamthitta has raised concerns over the misuse of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the provision of 'lenient conditions' for high-profile jail convicts including Kodi Suni, the prime accused in the T P Chandrasekharan murder. The political report, presented at the three-day meet being held in Konni, asked the ruling front to ensure fairness in the system. CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam, in his address, also took aim at the home department, cautioning the LDF government against the indiscriminate use of UAPA. Referring to the cases of Alan Shuhaib and Taha Fazal, Viswam said: 'Cases can be registered when there are valid reasons, but the government should not appear as one that keeps people in jail indefinitely under UAPA. That is the CPI policy.' He also cited the plight of Maoist leader Roopesh, who reportedly had to go on a hunger strike to publish a book, despite the Supreme Court having affirmed prisoners' right to do so. 'Kerala should not become a state that permanently detains citizens. CPI cannot accept this. UDF and BJP can do it, the Left government should not,' he stressed. The report highlighted that top police officers like ADGP Ajith Kumar are even disregarding ministerial directives. The report further criticised nepotism in Kudumbashree-linked appointments and warned that political welcoming of those accused under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA) and even POCSO could trigger public backlash. While acknowledging significant modernisation in the health sector, the CPI report called for better administrative discipline at the senior level. 'Kudumbashree is a major women's empowerment initiative, but placing its members directly in government departments without going through PSC (Public Service Commission) or employment exchange can raise fairness concerns and affect departmental functioning. Strong financial discipline is essential to avoid irregularities,' the report noted. Environmental concerns — including quarrying, soil removal, and paddy field reclamation — were also flagged, with the party calling for tighter vigil. The report also criticised the functioning of the animal husbandry department. On the national front, the CPI accused the RSS of attempting to portray itself as the 'apostles of the country' while glorifying leaders like Vinayak Savarkar 'who apologised to the British six times'. It also warned against Christian priests maintaining ties with the BJP, saying 'wolves in sheep's clothing' must be identified. The district meet will conclude on Saturday.
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
More trouble for NCP (SP) leader Eknath Khadse's son-in-law, Pune police book him for taking nude videos of woman
The Pune city police Friday booked Dr Pranjal Khewalkar, the son-in-law of former Maharashtra minister and Nationalist Congress Party (SP) leader Eknath Khadse, for allegedly taking nude videos and photographs of a woman in his cell phone without her consent. Khewalkar, the husband of Khadse's daughter Rohini Khadse, the NCP (SP)'s women's wing chief, has been in jail after he was arrested along with four men and two women following a raid on July 27 on a flat in the Kharadi area where the police claimed a 'rave party' was underway. A police press release on Friday said the woman filed a complaint with the cyber police station that Khewalkar, between 2022 and 2025, allegedly took her nude photographs and videos at different locations without her consent and with the purpose of misusing them in the future. The police lodged a fresh FIR against Khewalkar at the cyber police station under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Section 77 (voyeurism) and provisions of the Information Technology Act. During the alleged rave party, the police claimed to have recovered 2.7 grams of substance suspected to be cocaine, 70 grams of substance suspected to be marijuana and other items, including ten cell phones, two cars, a hookah pot, liquor and beer bottles, all worth Rs 41,35,400, from the spot. Th FIR in that case was lodged against the accused at the Kharadi police station under sections of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act (COTPA). Khewalkar's lawyer then alleged that the police planted the contraband seized in this case for 'political' reasons and that drugs were recovered from his possession. The police said analysis of Khewalkar's mobile phone and laptop revealed multiple videos of his alleged obscene and objectionable acts with women during and after the parties. Rupali Chakankar, the chairperson of Maharashtra Women's Commission, wrote a letter to the Pune police to investigate the matter thoroughly. Khadse accused the Pune police of defaming his family by leaking private photos through a conspiracy after arresting his son-in-law.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Kerala HC commutes life term of IS ex-operative, who was trained in Syria, to 10 years of RI
KOCHI: Kerala high court commuted the life sentence imposed on Subahani Haja alias Haja Moidheen of Thodupuzha, an accused in an Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) case for joining the proscribed terrorist organisation ISIS and fighting for them in Mosul, Iraq, in 2015, to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A bench comprising Justices V Raja Vijayaraghavan and K V Jayakumar on Thursday, while considering Haja's appeal challenging his conviction and sentence, upheld the rest of the findings and sentences imposed on him by a special court under various sections of UAPA and IPC. According to the prosecution, Haja travelled to Istanbul in Turkey on a tourist visa in April 2015, crossed the border into Iraq and underwent physical and arms training in Mosul. He was deployed on the war front but sustained an injury during training and was hospitalised. Following repeated requests, he was allowed to return to India in Sept 2015, after which he worked as a salesman-cum-accountant at Kadayanallur, Tamil Nadu, for about a year. In 2016, NIA arrested him upon receiving information about his association with ISIS. In 2020, the special court, Ernakulam, sentenced Haja to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh under Section 20 of UAPA (membership of a proscribed terrorist organisation). He was also sentenced to rigorous imprisonment totalling 19 years and fined Rs 2 lakh for other offences, including waging war against an Asiatic power in alliance with govt of India and supporting a terrorist organisation, with all sentences to run concurrently. On appeal, the division bench noted that the offences committed by Haja were grave and serious. However, it also considered the absence of prior criminal antecedents, his expression of repentance and the possibility of reformation. The court observed that after his return from Iraq, no specific overt acts were alleged against him except for an unsuccessful attempt to procure explosives. Further, it found that the special court had not stated any reason for awarding the maximum sentence under Section 20 of UAPA. In view of these factors, the bench commuted his life sentence to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment.
