Govt to HC: 143 toilets built in city for use by transgenders

New Delhi: Delhi govt has told the high court that 143 toilets have been constructed in the national capital for exclusive use by transgender persons.

In a status report, the govt’s social welfare department told a bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet PS Arora that 223 toilets were under construction, with work for 30 more yet to begin.

It added that there were 1,584 toilets for persons with disabilities, which were also designated for use by transgender persons.

A PIL had sought direction for the construction of separate washrooms for the third gender on the grounds that their absence made the transgender population prone to sexual assault and harassment.

“Making the respondents bound by the statement and undertaking given in the status report and action taken reports, the present writ petition is closed,” the bench said.

The govt had earlier said that a total of 102 such toilets were built and 194 more were under construction, while the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) had informed the court that 12 toilets for transgender persons were operational in the area under its jurisdiction and tenders for constructing 79 more were awarded.

The PIL argued that authorities in the capital must necessarily provide toilets for the transgender community to ensure they are treated equally. It cited examples from Mysore, Bhopal, and Ludhiana, where separate public washrooms have been built for them.

“There are no separate toilet facilities for transgenders. They have to use male toilets where they are prone to sexual assault and harassment. Discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity, therefore, impairs equality before the law and equal protection under the law and violates Article 14 of the Constitution,” the petition said.

People, including men, women and transgenders, feel uncomfortable and hesitate when the third gender uses washrooms that are made for others, the plea asserted, adding that this also violates the ‘right to privacy’ of the third gender.

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Courtesy : TOI

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