G LAXMAN Vs. MANAGING DIRECTOR HYDERABAD METROPOLITAN WATER SUPPLY AND SEWERAGE BOARD HMWSSB HYDERABAD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard the learned Counsel for the petitioner and the learned Standing Counsel on behalf of the first respondent. The petitioner-Secretary of Twin Cities, Andhra Pradesh Civil Liberties Committee, Hyderabad filed this writ petition invoking the jurisdiction of this Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the second respondent to constitute High-level Enquiry Committee and award Rs.2,00,000/- compensation to each of the deceased namely (1) Jayamma, (2) Swamy, (3) Seelaiah, (4) Lakshmaiah, (5) Rayakallu, (6) Babu and (7) Basavarajulu.

(2.) It is stated in the affidavit filed in support of the writ petition that inhuman conditions of unorganised casual labour employed in Government establishments, neligence by the Government/respondents and contractors resulted in seven labourers buried alive in trench while they were digging at two different places in Hyderabad. No compensation is stated to have been paid to the deceased families by the respondents. The petitioner places reliance upon the news item published in 'News Time' on 12-6-1997 and 'A.P. Times' on 10-7-1997. One incident is stated to have occurred on 11-6-1997 at about 12.30 p.m. in which four labourers including a woman and a 13 year old boy were buried when chunks of mud fell on them while the deceased labourers were digging a trench for laying a new Sewerage pipeline at Bhola Shanker Maktha, near Begumpet, Hyderabad, They were identified as (1) Jayamma, (2) Swamy, (3) Seelaiah and (4) Lakshmaiah. The first respondent took up the work of pipeline project under World Bank Programme. The trench was being dug to lay a swerage line from Kundanbagh to Somajiguda. Yet another mishap occurred on 9-7-1997 at around 5.30 p.m. and there labourers were stated to have died and one sustained injury. The deceased labourers were identified as (1) Rayakallu, (2) Babu and (3) Basavarajulu.

(3.) The petitioner has no personal knowledge about any of the incidents. None of the legal representatives of the deceased are impleaded to this writ petition. Even the injured persons are not before this Court.