‘Wake up’ SC slams civic agencies on drain deaths

This court would direct registration of FIR against the officials... This order is not just for PWD, but other officials also need to wake up from their slumber.

- Abraham Thomas

The Supreme Court on Thursday sent a terse reminder to all civic agencies in Delhi to “wake up from their slumber” to prevent manual scavenging deaths as it slapped the Delhi government's Public Works Department (PWD) with a fine of ₹5 lakh for employing labourers without safety gear in desilting of drains outside the court complex.

The bench of justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria said that if any worker dies, FIRs would be registered against the responsible officials.