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The Delhi High Court Monday asked civic authorities, including the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), to ensure that public toilets in the city are clean and in order.
A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Mini Pushkarna said, “The DDA (Delhi Development Authority) and MCD are directed to ensure that public urinals/toilets are clean, hygienic and in order.”
The high court granted one last opportunity to the authorities to file their response to a plea filed by Jan Seva Welfare Society highlighting the unhygienic conditions and lack of maintenance of public toilets in the national capital.
When the petitioner’s counsel submitted that on visiting certain public toilets, some of them were without electricity, the bench said to the counsel appearing for the civic authorities, “Please appoint one particular officer in charge of each toilet so that someone monitors it. If he doesn’t do his job, then you can take action against him.” The plea is next listed on January 29, 2024.
In its October 13 order, the HC had asked the respondent authorities – including the DDA, MCD, and New Delhi Municipal Council – to ensure that public toilets and conveniences were maintained with proper sanitation standards, saying their operation and maintenance were equally vital components of effective management and a complaint-reporting or feedback system must be put in place.
It had directed all civic authorities to prominently display at the site the name and contact numbers of the entity responsible for the operation and maintenance of each toilet facility to enable the public to report inconveniences.
Among other directions, the HC had also said the respondent authorities must validate that the displayed contact numbers are operational, ensuring that the public can report any concerns or inconveniences directly.
“We wish to emphasise that while the establishment of toilets is crucial, their operation and maintenance are equally vital components of effective management. Implementing a complaint reporting system and gathering feedback can greatly enhance the condition and usability of public conveniences. We are confident that the respondents will give due consideration to these elements and take necessary steps to address the issues highlighted,” the HC had said in its October order.
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