New Delhi, 22 April 2022: The Delhi High court had urged the Delhi government that separate washrooms for transgenders have to be constructed in developing public places. They have also asked for a status report on these toilets and other such facilities that are to be built, said the judge.
In response to a petition filed by a fifth-year law student, Jasmine Kaur Chhabra in 2020, the court directed centre, delhi government and the local authorities to address the issues of lack of separate public restrooms for transgender people as it renders them vulnerable to sexual harassment.
The court has stated, “allow GNCTD to file a status report detailing what actions have been made to date to create separate toilets for transgender people. The total number of toilets built so far should be made public. It should also be stated whether or not separate bathrooms for transgender people are being built or developed in new public locations. If this is not the case, we direct the respondents to investigate this matter as soon as possible.”
The Delhi government has set a 2-year time-limit for the building of these toilets. Stating that the construction will take time, therefore, the transgender population can use washrooms built for the physically challenged people.
The petitioner’s attorney pointed out that the current issue has been festering for a long time, and that the government has set a two-year deadline for the building of the toilets. “They’re getting there. This isn’t something that can be accomplished in a single day. It had never been there before. In the interim, restrooms built for individuals with disabilities will be utilised,” the court has ruled.
