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3. A direction is issued to the Collector, Kandhamal to immediately enquire into the matter, ensure that the compensation payable is immediately disbursed by the State and file a report as well as the compliance affidavit before this Court before the next date.

4. It is unfortunate that in the meanwhile on 20th October, 2021 there have been deaths of three more Sanitation Workers due to asphyxiation while cleaning the toilet tank in an under- construction building in the Panchayat village of Sankarda Panchayat in Kasipur, Rayagada. A memo has been filed by the learned Amicus Curiae before this Court in this regard. It is seen that F.I.R. No.126 of 2021 has been registered in Tikiri Police Station under Kasipur Judicial Magistrate, First Class.

9. The Court considers the above response of the Commissioner not proper since the question of payment of compensation twice under the Employees' Compensation Act does not arise as it was an insurance claim of the contractor with the Reliance General Insurance company which has honoured the claim and was for the specific purpose of meeting the contingency of death of sanitation workers engaged by the contractor. The said amount cannot be denied to the families of the two deceased sanitation workers.

10. Accordingly, a direction is issued to the Commissioner to immediately disburse the said amount of Rs.21,62,278/- pro rata to the families of the two deceased sanitation workers forthwith on the strength of this order. The secretary, DLSA is directed to ensure that this direction is complied with by the Commissioner promptly. A certified copy of this order will be produced by the Secretary, DLSA, Mayurbhanj before the Commissioner for this purpose. Simultaneously Mr. Muduli is directed to furnish the Commissioner immediately with the certified copy of this order.