The Supreme Court of India has granted high courts a final eight-week extension to file compliance reports on providing adequate toilet facilities in courts and tribunals, reinforcing sanitation as part of the right to life under Article 21. A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan warned that failure to comply will result in Registrar Generals being summoned personally.
This directive follows the Court’s January verdict highlighting critical gaps in judicial infrastructure. So far, only five high courts—Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Calcutta, Delhi, and Patna—have filed reports outlining audits and upgrades. The Court’s firm stance signals possible contempt proceedings for non-compliance, emphasizing accountability and the judiciary’s commitment to ensuring dignity and accessibility in court premises.
