Delhi High Court Seeks Centre, Delhi Govt's Response On Plea For Building Seperate Public Toilet Facilities For Transgenders, Third Gender

The Delhi High Court has sought the response of Centre and Delhi Government on a plea seeking directions for building seperate public toilet facilities for Transgenders and third gender.

A division bench comprising of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh issued notice to Union of India through Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Delhi Government and Delhi Municipal Corporations. The notice is returnable of September 13.

Moved by a final year law student Jasmine Kaur Chhabra through Advocate Rupinder Pal Singh, the plea also seeks directions to take necessary action in compliance of Swacch Bharat Mission guidelines dated 15th October 2017 specifying the need to make seperate toilets for transgender community.

Additionally, directions have also been prayed for maintaining hygiene of such washrooms so that the rights of transgender community are protected in terms of the NALSA Judgment.

Stating that every human being, irrespective of the gender, has basic human rights including use of seperate public toilets, the plea avers that not providing such facilities to transgender or third gender persons will be in violation of Article 14 and 21.

"Out of 29 states in this country no state has separate public washrooms except for cities mysore, ludhiana and bhopal for the third gender. the transgender community consists of 7-8% of the total population of this country which makes it very necessary for the authorities to provide same facilities and equal treatment to them in this regard." The plea reads.

Furthermore, the plea reads "We have to bid adieu to the perceptions, stereotypes and prejudices deeply ingrained in the societal mindset so as to usher in inclusivity in all spheres and empower all citizens alike without any kind of alienation and discrimination."

The matter will now be considered on September 13.

Title: Jasmine Kaur Chhabra v. UOI & Ors.