The Delhi High Court recently set a deadline of 8 weeks for the construction of public toilets for transgender people in the national capital and warned it will order the personal appearance of the top officials concerned with the Delhi government and the NDMC in case of non-compliance.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma noted that as per the status report filed by the city government, while the process of construction was stated to be underway, no public toilets have been built for the transgender population.
“Status report has been filed informing this court that the State has taken appropriate action keeping in view the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act in the matter of construction of public toilets for transgender persons. However, the status report reveals that toilets have not been constructed at all,” observed the bench, also comprising Justice Subramonium Prasad.
The court granted some time to the government to ensure toilets are constructed as soon as possible within 8 weeks and sought a fresh status report. The court stated the status report of the New Delhi Municipal Council indicated the existence of ‘paperwork’ but the ‘ground reality is that nothing has been done’ and granted a final opportunity to the council for the construction of toilets for transgender persons.
It said that “Feasibility report does not mean that toilet has been constructed and therefore 8 weeks’ time is granted by way of last indulgence to NDMC also to ensure that toilet is in place before the next date of hearing, failing which this court shall be directing the personal appearance of chairman of NDMC.”
