Madras High Court Files Detailed Report Before Supreme Court On Status Of Toilets For Women Lawyers In Nilgiris Court Complex

On 9th July, 2023, the Apex Court had directed the Madras High Court administration to submit through its Registrar General a detailed report on the issue of lack of toilet complexes for women lawyers in the Nilgiris Court Complex by Sunday, 11th June, 2023. In the said order, the Apex Court noted that while the Registrar General had earlier filed a report in the matter, the same was not a detailed one. It did not specify the facilities for women lawyers were being provided for in the new court complex and as to whether there was any shrinkage of such facilities which were earlier available.

Considering the fact that the Registrar General has submitted a detailed report, on Monday, a Bench comprising Justice Aniruddha Bose and Justice Rajesh Bindal recorded in its order -

“In terms of our direction passed on 09.06.2023, the Registrar General of the High Court, Madras has filed a detailed report giving full particulars of the facilities available. As of now the petitioner does not have any grievance. Let this matter be placed before the appropriate Bench first week of July, 2023.”

The order was passed in a miscellaneous application filed by the Women Lawyers Association of Nilgiris. The application was taken up by the Court on its own motion, considering the nature of grievances of the women lawyers of the Nilgiris district projected in a news report.

Women Lawyers Association of Nilgiris filed the present application in an earlier writ petition filed by Nilgiris District Bar Association. The writ petition filed by Nilgiris District Bar Association was disposed of by the Supreme Court on April 29, 2023 after taking note of the submission made on behalf of the Madras High Court that necessary steps have been taken. The Court 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. A bench comprising CJI DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha had considered the petition.

More recently, the National Commission For Women, acting on a complaint filed by a lawyer, 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.

[Case Title: Women Lawyers Association of Nilgiris v The Registrar, Madras High Court & Ors | MA 1378/2023 in W.P.(C) No. 511/2023]