Address lack of toilets for women lawyers in Nilgiris court complex: NCW Chairperson to Madras High Court

Chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW) Rekha Sharma has written a letter to the Registrar General of the Madras High Court seeking measures to address the lack of toilets for women lawyers in the Nilgiris Court Complex in Ooty, Tamil Nadu..In her letter sent on 7 June, Sharma said that a separate and fully functional toilet facility for women lawyers was 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."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."The NCW has sought a report on action taken by the High Court Registrar General within three days..The letter follows a Bar & Bench report on the plight of women lawyers who have been fighting for a toilet in the Nilgiris court complex for nearly three decades..In October last year, the new combined court complex building in Udhagamandalam (Ooty) was inaugurated, over two decades after the four-acre plot was allotted for the same.The new complex houses eight court buildings, chambers for lawyers, two rooms for paralegals, rooms for the judges' drivers, a vulnerable victims' room, a convention hall, and for some reason, also a plush 'bedroom' with a queen-size bed and a chaise longue.What the new building doesn't have, however, is a toilet for the 60-odd women lawyers who practice there..The NCW was acting on a complaint filed by one Aditya Kashyap highlighting the absence of toilet facilities for women lawyers within the recently inaugurated court complex, noting,"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."The letter also highlights the discomfort and indignity faced by women lawyers in such a situation where they have 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..[Read Letter]