Sweeping HC order: Scavengers, maids can’t complain, must clean

Justice T Raja was passing orders on a plea moved by Mahalakshmi, who had been working at the Anna University, Dindigul campus, for five years. She had alleged that she had been forced to do household chores at principal Chitraselvi’s residence. 

The judge, while dismissing the petition, held, “In my opinion, when the petitioner was serving as a daily rated employee and her nature of work is to clean premises, including the restroom and also to wash clothes, it is not known how the petitioner can exceptionally make a complaint that the principal had compelled her to clean the toilets in her house  and wash her dresses and the innerwear of her  husband.” 

The judge further noted, “Similarly, when a sweeper/ scavenger is employed he/ she has to clean up the toilet also, because she was appointed for washing clothes of all the family members for which she had been paid. Hence, being a domestic maid appointed as sweeper and cleaner, she has to wash all the clothes irrespective of whether it is innerwear or others.” 

“Similarly, a sweeper cannot complain that she cannot be compelled to clean up the toilet. This is wholly unacceptable,” the judge added. The judge also noted that since the principal also belongs to the same community as that of the scavenger, there was no scope she could have abused her. Also, citing police inquiry reports that the complaint by the petitioner was false, Justice Raja imposed a cost of Rs 25,000 to be paid to the principal within four weeks after saying, “The petitioner has wasted the precious time of this court.”