Sewer Death in Ahmedabad: PVCHR Demands Justice for Sanitation Worker Rajesh Vegad

 People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) expresses deep concern over yet another tragic incident of a sewer death in India. On 16 November 2023, Rajesh Vegad (45 years old), a sanitation worker from Bhavnagar, Gujarat, died after inhaling poisonous gas while cleaning a septic tank in Ahmedabad inside a government laboratory campus. Despite the use of mechanized equipment, workers were sent inside the septic tank, exposing them to life-threatening conditions.

This death is not an accident—it is a preventable crime resulting from systemic negligence and caste-based exploitation.

PVCHR Intervention

Following the report published in Navbharat Times, PVCHR’s founder Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) (Diary No. 19792/IN/2023; Case No. 1500/6/1/2023).

  • 12 February 2024: NHRC issued notices to the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, Gujarat, seeking detailed reports.

  • April 2024: The Dy. SP, Botad, submitted a report confirming prosecution against those responsible. However, the accused approached the Gujarat High Court seeking quashing of the FIR.

  • November 2024: Despite repeated reminders, the Chief Secretary, Government of Gujarat, failed to provide the required report.

  • 9 September 2025: NHRC issued a Show Cause Notice under Section 18 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, directing the Government of Gujarat to explain why ₹30 lakh compensation (as mandated by the Supreme Court in Dr. Balram Singh vs. Union of India) should not be given to the victim’s family.

Analysis

This case highlights three urgent issues:

  1. Violation of the 2013 Act: The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act (2013) prohibits hazardous manual cleaning. Yet, sewer deaths continue.

  2. Government Negligence: The Gujarat administration ignored NHRC notices for nearly two years, showing disregard for human rights.

  3. Delayed Justice: Despite clear Supreme Court guidelines fixing compensation at ₹30 lakhs, families are forced to wait years for relief.

PVCHR’s Stand

  • Sewer deaths are institutional murders, not accidents.

  • The Government must ensure immediate compensation, criminal accountability of responsible officials, and strict enforcement of mechanization.

  • Families of victims must be supported with rehabilitation, livelihood opportunities, and education for children.

Call to Action

PVCHR urges:

  • Government of Gujarat to immediately release compensation of ₹30 lakh to the family of Rajesh Vegad and ensure prosecution of all responsible.

  • NHRC to monitor strict compliance of its 2021 Advisory on hazardous cleaning.

  • Civil society and media to hold authorities accountable so that no more lives are lost inside India’s sewers.

Every sewer death is a reminder of India’s unfinished struggle to abolish manual scavenging. PVCHR will continue its fight for dignity, justice, and human rights of sanitation workers.

Issued by:
People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR)
Varanasi, India

From: <nhrc.india@nic.in>
Date: Tue, Sep 23, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Subject: Show Cause Notice Issued (SCN) - 1500/6/1/2023
To: <chiefsecretary@gujarat.gov.in>, <csguj@gujarat.gov.in>
Cc: <pvchr.adv@gmail.com>


NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
MANAV ADHIKAR BHAWAN BLOCK-C, GPO COMPLEX, INA, NEW DELHI- 110023
Fax No.: 011-24651332    Website: www.nhrc.nic.in
(Law Division)
Case No.- 1500/6/1/2023
Date : 23/09/2025  
To,
THE CHIEF SECRETARY
GOVERNMENT OF GUJARAT 1ST BLOCK, 5TH FLOOR SACHIVALAYA, GANDHINAGAR – 382010
GUJARAT GUJARAT
Email- chiefsecretary@gujarat.gov.in,csguj@gujarat.gov.in
 
Sir/ Madam,
 
        The case No. 1500/6/1/2023 in respect of LENIN RAGHUVNASHI, was placed before the Commission on 09/09/2025. Upon perusing the same, the Commission directed as follows:
         On a complaint lodged by a Human Rights Activist referring to a newspaper report about the death of a sanitation worker while cleaning a septic tank in Ahmedabad, this Commission took suo motu cognizance and passed an order dated 12.02.2024, calling for necessary reports.

Only the Dy.Supdt. of Police, Botad Division, Gujarat has submitted a report, which indicates that prosecution was launched against the persons responsible and that the accused have gone to the High Court  for quashing the FIR.

No report has been received from the Chief Secretary to the Govt. of Gujarat, despite a reminder being directed to be issued on 21.11.2024.

Since the Hon’ble Supreme Court has already fixed the compensation payable in such cases as Rs.Thirty Lakhs in Dr. Balram Singh Vs. Union of India, a show cause notice u/s 18 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 may be issued to the Chief Secretary to the Govt. of Gujarat, calling upon him to show cause within six weeks, as to why the said amount of compensation should not be directed to be paid to the next of kin of the deceased.  

The matter may be listed after six weeks.
 
2.     This is for your information and further necessary action.

Your’s faithfully
Sd/-
Indrajeet Kumar
DEPUTY REGISTRAR (LAW)
FC Section
Ph. No. 011-24663276

CC to

Complainant Details
Case No. 1500/6/1/2023
LENIN RAGHUVNASHI
SA4/2A DAULATPUR VARANASI
VARANASI , UTTAR PRADESH
221002
Email- pvchr.adv@gmail.com , Mob No- 9935599331

Indrajeet Kumar
DEPUTY REGISTRAR (LAW)
FC Section
Ph. No. 011-24663276



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