“How many Police Stations are not having toilets for women?” Allahabad High Court asks State

The Allahabad High Court recently sought details from the Uttar Pradesh government on the number of Police Stations in the State which do not have toilets for women (Anjali Pandey And 12 Others v. State of UP)..A Division bench of Justices Sanjay Yadav and Jayant Banerji directed the Standing Counsel for the State to “seek instructions and also place status report as to how many Police Stations in the State are not having toilets for women.”.The Court was hearing a petition moved by students from various law colleges across the State seeking directions to ensure the construction of ladies toilets in Police Stations where it is not constructed along with all necessary facilities like toiletries running water, electricity, fan, doorknob to protect the privacy and dignity of women.Besides the above the petition also made the following prayers:Complete the semi constructed/ damaged/ incomplete toilets in the Police Stations of Allahabad.Direct the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) to constitute a monitoring committee for the inspection of toilets in police stations of Allahabad and to place its report before the SSP, Allahabad periodically under the monitoring of the High Court. The committee should be headed by a woman police officer and comprise of the Police Inspector, SI and constable.Issue directions to State authorities and the Director General of Police, Lucknow, to make sufficient budgetary allocation for the construction and maintenance of washrooms and toilets in the police stations..The petitioners in the matter include Anjali Pandey, Anupriya Yadav, Parinita, Vaishali Gupta, Ananya Prakash, Anshika Yadav, Pragati Yadav, Shabih Fatima and Sharmistha Pandey..All the petitioners appeared in person before the Court. The case has been listed for further hearing in the second week of February..[Read Order]