Supreme Court Expresses Dismay At Delay In Appointment Of National Safai Karamchari Commission Members

Key Points:

• The Supreme Court expressed dismay over the delay in appointing the Chairman and members of the National Safai Karamchari Commission, giving the Union a final four-week deadline to comply.
• The Court indicated that if appointments are not made within this timeframe, it will appoint an ad-hoc committee to oversee the Commission's work.
• This situation highlights ongoing issues related to the rights and welfare of Safai Karamcharis, particularly in light of previous rulings aimed at eradicating manual scavenging practices.

Background: The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) was established under the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis Act, 1993, to protect the rights and dignity of sanitation workers. The Supreme Court's recent orders follow a comprehensive judgment from October 2023 that increased compensation for deaths related to manual scavenging.

What's Next: The Union has four weeks to make the necessary appointments; failure to do so will result in the Supreme Court appointing an ad-hoc committee.