The Delhi High Court on Wednesday chided the civic authorities for “complete apathy and insensitivity” in maintaining public toilets in the city.
“The municipal authorities and development bodies like MCD, DDA and NDMC have exhibited a complete apathy, insensitivity and even dereliction of duty so far as the maintenance of public conveniences is concerned,” remarked a Bench of Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela.
The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the NGO Jan Sewa Welfare Society, seeking directions to the municipal authorities to ensure the availability of hygienic public toilets with clean water and electricity in the Capital.
When the petitioner’s counsel referred to the photos of a few public toilets, the court stated, “They [authorities] need not be reminded repeatedly of their primary responsibility of providing adequate public conveniences under law.”
“The municipal bodies and development agencies are created by the legislature for the benefit of the general populace and they function on public money. It is hurting and unfortunate to note the conditions of toilets depicted in the photographs tendered by the counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner,” the court stated.
“Given such a state of public utilities available in the city, the problems being faced by women get compounded by obvious reasons,” the court added.
The Bench ordered the MCD, NDMC and DDA to prepare a comprehensive plan to keep the public toilets clean and functional. “The plan should be founded on an appropriate expert study, which should make appropriate recommendations to ensure public utility services remain usable,” it added.
Published – July 03, 2025 01:44 am IST