Right to Sanitation & Dignified Public Toilets in Government Offices and Court Premises
Inspection conducted by National Public Service Trust on 03.07.2026 revealed that public toilets in Government offices and Court premises at Haridwar were locked, unusable, unhygienic or converted into store rooms. Despite detailed representations, no effective action was taken, resulting in violation of Articles 14, 15, 21, 47 and the Supreme Court judgment in Rajeev Kalita v. Union of India.
The PIL remains pending. By order dated 22.07.2026, the High Court issued interim directions requiring inspection of toilet and sanitation facilities in specified premises, called for concrete proposals to remove shortcomings, and directed the Registrar General to file an affidavit regarding conditions in the High Court premises. No final relief has been expressly granted in this order.
- 01Inspection, repair and restoration of public toilets
- 02Maintenance, accessibility and monitoring
- 03Compliance with Supreme Court sanitation guidelines
On 22.07.2026, the High Court granted respondents two weeks to obtain instructions, directed the District Magistrate, Haridwar to inspect sanitation facilities in specified court and government office premises and propose corrective measures with timelines, and directed the Registrar General to file an affidavit on toilet conditions in the High Court premises. The matter was listed for 12.08.2026.
Respondents were granted two weeks’ time to obtain instructions in the matter.; The District Magistrate, Haridwar is directed to get all the toilets in various Courts premises, District Magistrate’s Court, Collectorate Office, SSP Office, Tehsil Campus and other Government Offices inspected to ascertain whether the directions issued by the Supreme Court in Rajeev Kalita vs. Union of India and others are being followed or not.; The District Magistrate, Haridwar is directed to come up with concrete proposals for removing the shortcomings and for ensuring that necessary repairs and maintenance work are undertaken within fixed timelines.; The Registrar General will file an affidavit regarding the condition of the toilets in the High Court premises and steps taken so far to bring them into proper condition.; The Registrar General will specify whether all parameters laid down by the Supreme Court in Rajeev Kalita vs. Union of India and others are being met and, if there is any shortcoming, specifically point out the same.; The matter is listed on 12.08.2026.
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