'Final opportunity': SC warns high courts over non-submission of toilet facilities reports; gives 8 weeks to reply

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday gave high courts a "final opportunity" to submit compliance reports as directed earlier, following its January verdict on toilet facilities in courts and tribunals in the country.

A bench of justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan gave the high courts - eight weeks - to do so.

“Many high courts are yet to file their affidavits/compliance report…we grant them the last opportunity to file the compliance reports within eight weeks. We make it clear that if they fail to file the status reports, then the registrar generals will remain present personally here,” the bench ordered, according to news agency PTI.

The judges also noted that out of 25 high courts, only five - Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Calcutta, Delhi and Patna - had filed affidavits giving details of actions taken to comply with the directions of the initial judgement.

On January 15, the top court had ruled that access to proper sanitation is recognised as a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution, and directed high courts to oversee and ensure that the facilities are clearly identifiable and accessible to judges, advocates, litigants and staff.

"States/Union territories shall allocate sufficient funds for construction, maintenance and cleanliness of the toilet facilities within the court premises, which shall be periodically reviewed in consultation with the committee constituted by the high courts," it had ordered.

That judgement was on a public interest litigation by advocate Rajeeb Kalita.