NHRC takes suo motu cognizance of three deaths while manually cleaning a sewage line in Ludhiana

📌 Summary:

• The NHRC took suo motu cognizance of the deaths of three workers and injuries to two others from inhaling toxic fumes while manually cleaning a factory sewage line in Ludhiana, Punjab, on 1 June 2026
• The workers, hired to clear a chemical-waste sewage system, entered the sewer without any safety equipment
• NHRC issued notices to the Punjab Chief Secretary and the Ludhiana Police Commissioner, seeking a detailed report within two weeks
• The report must cover the investigation status, the health of injured workers, and any compensation announced by the government

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS1 Society — social empowerment, dignity of labour, hazardous cleaning; GS2 — role of statutory rights bodies (NHRC)

📝 Prelims Facts:

• NHRC = statutory body under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993
• Manual scavenging is prohibited under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013
• NHRC can take suo motu cognizance of human rights violations

🔑 Key Term: Suo motu cognizance — when an authority takes up a matter on its own initiative, without a formal complaint