Lack of Public Toilets Violates Human Dignity, Says SC
New Delhi – In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court of India has declared that easy access to clean public toilets is a basic right and an essential part of human dignity. The verdict applies to all individuals, including men, women, persons with disabilities, and transgender people.
The bench, comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan, highlighted the poor maintenance and inaccessibility of public restrooms despite being constructed at various locations, such as toll plazas on national highways.
State Governments Must Ensure Clean & Accessible Toilets
Justice Mahadevan, who authored the judgment, emphasized that State governments and Union Territories have a duty to provide clean and gender-inclusive washrooms. This includes ensuring the availability of drinking water and proper maintenance of toilets throughout the year.
The verdict came in response to a writ petition filed by lawyer Rajeev Kalita, who raised concerns about the severe shortage of toilets—especially clean and gender-sensitive ones—on court and tribunal premises across the country.
Clean Toilets Are Essential for a Welfare State
The judgment stressed that without ensuring toilet access for all three genders, no State or Union Territory can claim to be a welfare state. It also pointed out that the need for clean washrooms is particularly urgent for judges, lawyers, litigants, and court staff who spend long hours working in judicial institutions.
The Way Forward: Strengthening Public Sanitation Infrastructure
To comply with the Supreme Court’s directive, authorities must:
✅ Increase the number of public toilets, especially in high-footfall areas.
✅ Ensure regular maintenance to keep washrooms hygienic and accessible.
✅ Implement gender-sensitive sanitation policies for inclusivity.
✅ Provide drinking water and basic hygiene facilities at all public restrooms.
This ruling reinforces that access to clean sanitation is a fundamental right, not a privilege, and urges authorities to take immediate steps toward improving public toilet infrastructure across India.
