Chandigarh, Mar 23 (PTI) The Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) has issued notices to concerned officials, directing them to submit reports on the death of seven workers when a mound of soil collapsed at a construction site in Gurugram.
The HHRC took suo motu cognisance of recent media reports regarding the incident at an under-construction sewage treatment plant (STP) site of Signature Global at Sidhrawali village near Delhi’s Jaipur Expressway in Gurugram district.
Six of the workers, who died in the March 9 incident, were from Jharkhand, while one was from Rajasthan. Four other workers were injured.
The HHRC has directed officials of the Town and Country Planning Department, Labour Department, police, Municipal Corporation of Gurugram, and other concerned authorities to submit their reports at least one week before the next hearing on May 13.
The commission has sought information on the status of casualties and rescue operations, compliance with safety norms, action taken against those responsible, compensation and rehabilitation measures for victims, and steps to strengthen enforcement of labour safety laws, among others.
It has underscored the need for strict implementation of laws such as the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation) Act, 1996 and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020.
The commission, which includes chairperson Justice Lalit Batra and members Kuldip Jain and Deep Bhatia, said it will examine the issue in a broader context, citing recurring construction site accidents and the need to protect the human rights of labourers across Haryana.
In its March 12 order, the HHRC observed that construction work is among the most hazardous occupations, particularly for migrant and economically vulnerable workers.
A large number of workers engaged in the sector are migrant labourers belonging to economically weaker sections, who often work under vulnerable conditions and have limited awareness of their legal rights and safety protection, the commission said.
It noted that accidents at construction sites continue to occur due to alleged negligence, inadequate monitoring, lack of proper structural safeguards and failure to strictly implement safety protocols.
It stressed that these incidents highlight the need for stricter enforcement of labour safety laws and accountability of builders, contractors, and project authorities responsible for ensuring safe working conditions.
It emphasised that the right to safe and humane working conditions is an integral part of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
“When labourers are compelled to work in unsafe environments without adequate safeguards, their fundamental human rights are placed in serious jeopardy. The tragic loss of life and injuries suffered by workers in such incidents cannot be viewed merely as workplace accidents.
“Rather, they represent serious violations of human rights arising from negligence and failure to protect the safety and dignity of workers,” the panel observed. PTI SUN ASD SKY SKY
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