‘Law banning manual scavenging can’t be violated in the name of religious practice’

Gangaram Baderiya, Principal Secretary to the Revenue Department, has said the law banning manual scavenging cannot be violated in the name of religious practice or tradition.

He was speaking at a meeting with people representing the Jain Mutt and officers engaged in preparations for the Mahamastakabhisheka at Shravanabelagola on Sunday.

Referring to the report on

alleged manual scavenging in the temporary township at Shravanabelagola that appeared in

The Hindu on Sunday, the senior IAS officer said employing human beings to clean latrines would attract legal action as per the law.

“A practice banned by law cannot be continued in the name of religious practice or tradition,” he said.

Later, during his visit to Tyagi Nagar to inspect the preparations, Mr. Baderiya reiterated that the law was supreme and the government cannot allow violation of the law.

Karnataka Safai Karmachari Commission chairman M.R. Venkatesh told

The Hindu that the commission would soon visit the spot and take action as per law.