The Supreme Court dismissed a plea filed by the Women Lawyers Association of Nilgiris district in Tamil Nadu, which raised concerns over a lack of bathroom facilities, after taking note of the Madras High Court’s submission, which stated that the required efforts had been taken.
The Court gave liberty to the Association to seek remedies from the District Judge or the Registrar General of the High Court for any subsisting grievances.
The plea was heard by a bench consisting of CJI DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha.
CJI Chandrachud stated at the outset that these matters might be handled by the Madras High Court.
“Unfortunately, several representations have been made,” Advocate Vivekanandh, appearing for the petitioner, stated.
Senior Advocate Guru Krishnakumar, standing on behalf of the Madras High Court, stated that the required steps had been made to resolve the grievances of female lawyers.
“They say that alternative accommodation as well as toilet facilities have been provided. It’s incredibly embarrassing and awful that we have to approach this court over this matter, but the toilet facilities they’ve provided us don’t even have a door. It is made with such callousness. All I wanted to do was bring it to your lordship’s attention,” Advocate Vivekanandh contended
Krishnakumar claimed that, following his directions, two rooms with an adjacent washroom had been assigned to female lawyers, and that images of the same were available.
Taking note of this submission, the bench stated in the ruling, “If the petitioner has any pending grievance, it would be at liberty to either move the District Judge or, as the case may be, the Registrar General of the High Court so that the grievance can be looked into.”
