The petition challenges the Greater Chennai Corporation’s (GCC) 16 June resolution to outsource sanitary work in Zone 6 to Telangana-based Delhi MSW Solutions Limited.
Published Aug 11, 2025 | 4:40 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 11, 2025 | 4:40 PM
Madras High Court. (Wikimedia)
Synopsis: The Madras High Court postponed to 13 August a hearing on a petition by Uzhaippor Urimai Iyakkam challenging the GCC’s decision to outsource sanitary work in Zone 6. The petitioner cited protests by 2,000 conservancy workers, mostly from marginalised communities. Meanwhile, a public interest case will address traffic disruptions caused by ongoing protests near Ripon Buildings.
The Madras High Court on Monday, 11 August, postponed the hearing of a petition filed by the Uzhaippor Urimai Iyakkam to Wednesday, 13 August.
The petition challenges the Greater Chennai Corporation’s (GCC) 16 June resolution to outsource sanitary work in Zone 6 to Telangana-based Delhi MSW Solutions Limited.
Justice K. Surender, the presiding judge of the Madras High Court, granted more time after Advocate General P.S. Raman, representing the government and the Corporation Commissioner, sought to file a fresh counter affidavit in the case.
The petitioner’s counsel told the court that around 2,000 conservancy workers have been protesting for more than 10 days against the outsourcing decision, alleging they were being treated “like garbage.”
He said many of the workers belong to marginalised communities and women, and urged the court to issue an interim order stopping the move.
The Advocate General denied the allegations, saying the workers’ interests were protected.
In an affidavit, the petitioner claimed the GCC lacked the authority to outsource the work and that temporary workers appointed under government schemes should be given permanent jobs.
Separately, an advocate told the Chief Justice’s Bench that the protest outside the GCC’s Ripon Buildings office was causing traffic disruptions, including delays for ambulances. The Bench agreed to hear a public interest case on this matter on Tuesday, 12 August.
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Veni EN)
