The Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) has issued notices to the concerned authorities, seeking detailed reports on the death of seven workers after a mound of soil collapsed at a construction site in Gurugram.
The commission took suo motu cognisance of media reports about the incident, which occurred on March 9 at an under-construction sewage treatment plant (STP) site of Signature Global in Sidhrawali village, located near the Delhi–Jaipur Expressway in Gurugram district. Among the deceased, six workers were from Jharkhand and one was from Rajasthan, while four others sustained injuries.
The HHRC has directed officials from the Town and Country Planning Department, Labour Department, police, Municipal Corporation of Gurugram, and other concerned agencies to submit their reports at least a week before the next hearing scheduled for May 13.
The commission has sought comprehensive details, including the status of rescue operations and casualties, adherence to prescribed safety norms, action taken against those found responsible, compensation and rehabilitation measures for the victims, and steps being implemented to strengthen enforcement of labour safety laws.
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It has also emphasised the importance of strict compliance with existing legal provisions such as the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation) Act, 1996, and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020.
The commission, comprising chairperson Justice Lalit Batra and members Kuldip Jain and Deep Bhatia, stated that it would examine the matter in a broader context, pointing to recurring construction-related accidents and the urgent need to safeguard the human rights of labourers across Haryana.
In its order dated March 12, the HHRC observed that construction work remains one of the most hazardous occupations, especially for migrant and economically vulnerable workers.
It noted that a significant proportion of workers in the sector are migrants from weaker economic backgrounds, often employed in precarious conditions with limited awareness of their legal rights and safety protections.
The commission further highlighted that such accidents frequently occur due to alleged negligence, inadequate supervision, absence of proper structural safeguards, and failure to enforce safety protocols effectively.
It stressed that these recurring incidents underline the necessity for stricter enforcement of labour safety laws and greater accountability of builders, contractors and project authorities responsible for ensuring safe working environments.
Reiterating constitutional principles, the commission said that the right to safe and humane working conditions is an essential component of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
“When labourers are compelled to work in unsafe conditions without adequate safeguards, their fundamental rights are placed at serious risk. Such tragic loss of lives and injuries cannot be treated merely as workplace accidents,” the commission observed.
“Rather, these incidents constitute serious violations of human rights arising from negligence and the failure to ensure the safety, dignity, and well-being of workers,” it added.
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