Chennai, Aug 11 (NationPress) The Madras High Court has postponed to August 13 the proceedings regarding a petition that challenges the decision made by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) to outsource sanitation services in Zone 6 to a private contractor.

Justice K. Surender granted the delay after Advocate General (A-G) P.S. Raman requested additional time to submit a new counter affidavit.

The A-G informed the court that modifications had been made to an affidavit previously submitted to the petitioner and that the updated document awaited the signature of the Corporation Commissioner.

This petition, brought forward by the Uzhaippor Urimai Iyakkam (UUI), disputes a resolution passed by the GCC on June 16 that awarded the contract to Delhi MSW Solutions Limited, based in Telangana.

During initial arguments, the counsel for UUI claimed that nearly 2,000 sanitation workers have been protesting for over ten days due to the GCC's negligence regarding their concerns.

“I am advocating for both a case and a cause. Two thousand individuals are on the streets. They have been discarded like refuse. This is how they are treating Aruthathiyar, Adi Dravidars, and women. This is now a conflict between David and Goliath,” the counsel stated, urging the court to issue an interim injunction against the outsourcing.

The A-G refuted these accusations, asserting that the workers were “in safe hands” and their interests were not being jeopardized. He assured the court that the GCC's position would be elaborated upon in the counter-affidavit.

In his affidavit, UUI president K. Bharathi contended that the GCC lacked the authority to outsource sanitation duties and that such responsibilities should be fulfilled either by permanent employees or directly engaged temporary workers.

He emphasized that temporary workers—including many hired under the National Urban Livelihood Mission and through self-help groups—deserve the opportunity to be integrated into permanent roles.

Bharathi also highlighted that an industrial dispute regarding the outsourcing has already been referred to the Industrial Tribunal on July 28, indicating that the GCC cannot proceed without its approval.

Meanwhile, before the first Division Bench led by Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava, an advocate raised alarms over traffic disturbances caused by protesting sanitation workers outside Ripon Buildings, the GCC headquarters. The Bench consented to hear a corresponding public interest litigation on August 12.