NCW Acts On Complaint Regarding Lack Of Toilets For Women Lawyers In Nilgiris Court Complex; Writes To Madras HC Registrar
The National Commission For Women on Wednesday urged the Madras High Court Registrar to take immediate cognizance of the lack of toilets for female lawyers at the Nilgiris Court Complex. The commission asked the Registrar to communicate the steps taken within three days.In the letter, the NCW said the court complex, which was inaugurated in 2022, boasts of several amenities but lacks a...
The National Commission For Women on Wednesday urged the Madras High Court Registrar to take immediate cognizance of the lack of toilets for female lawyers at the Nilgiris Court Complex. The commission asked the Registrar to communicate the steps taken within three days.
In the letter, the NCW said the court complex, which was inaugurated in 2022, boasts of several amenities but lacks a designated toilet that the women lawyers can use.
"The complainant has mentioned in their complaint that the new court complex was inaugurated in June, 2022. While the complex boasts of several amenities and facilities, it shockingly lacks a designated toilet that women lawyers can access. This oversight has left women lawyers in an uncomfortable and undignified position, having to struggle with basic sanitation needs while performing their professional duties. It is disheartening to learn that the women lawyers in Nilgiris have been demanding a toilet in the court complex for the past 25 years without any resolution. This prolonged neglect of their legitimate and basic requirement is not only a violation of their rights but also hinders their ability to carry out their legal responsibilities effectively" the letter reads.
NCW also said that providing such functional toilets is not only a matter of gender equality but also essential for creating an inclusive work environment.
"I, therefore, urge you to take immediate cognizance of this matter and intervene to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to address this pressing issue. Providing a seperate and fully functional toilet facility for women lawyers is not only a matter of gender equality and dignity but also an essential step towards creating an inclusive and conducive environment for all legal professionals," NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma wrote.
In April this year, when a petition was filed by the Women Lawyers Association of Nilgiris district raising grievances regarding lack of toilet facilities, the Madras High Court had informed the Supreme Court that necessary steps have been taken to address the issue. A bench comprising CJI DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha had given liberty to the Association to approach the District Judge or the Registrar General of the High Court for redressal of any subsisting grievances.