The Delhi High Court on Wednesday came down heavily on the city’s municipal and development bodies for exhibiting “complete apathy and insensitivity” in maintaining public toilets, describing the situation as “hurting and unfortunate.”
A division bench comprising Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela made the remarks while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the NGO Jan Sewa Welfare Society. The plea seeks directions to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to ensure the provision of clean and functional public toilets equipped with water and electricity.
During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel submitted photographs depicting the deplorable condition of several public conveniences across the capital. The court, after examining the visuals, observed that the civic agencies had shown not just neglect but a “dereliction of duty” in upholding basic sanitation standards.
“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,” the bench said in its order. It added that such negligence was particularly problematic for women, who face greater challenges due to the lack of usable sanitation facilities.
The court noted that the disturbing condition of the toilets shown in the images likely reflected the situation across other parts of the city as well. “They need not be reminded repeatedly of their primary responsibility of providing adequate public conveniences under law,” the bench added, underscoring that these agencies are funded by public money and exist for the public good.
In response to the court’s previous directions, the civic bodies had filed status reports outlining the steps taken so far. However, the bench found the measures inadequate and ordered the authorities to escalate the issue to the “highest level” of decision-making.
The court directed MCD, DDA, and NDMC to develop comprehensive plans for their respective jurisdictions, founded on expert studies that would recommend solutions to ensure long-term functionality and hygiene of public toilets. It also mandated that immediate action be taken to fix the toilets shown in the photographs.
Additionally, the High Court reminded the authorities of its earlier directive to develop a unified application for registering and resolving public grievances related to civic amenities.
The matter will be heard further as the court monitors compliance with its directions.
