Inspect, renovate toilets in jails, Delhi HC tells govt

Tribune News Service

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New Delhi, August 8

The Delhi High Court on Thursday directed the Public Works Department (PWD) to conduct an inspection into the condition of toilets in all jail complexes in the Capital.

A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela was hearing a plea filed by Anuj Malhotra over the lack of facilities for inmates in jail complexes. The petitioner’s counsel alleged that human excreta was being cleaned by inmates with bare hands.

However, the report, submitted to the court by the jail authorities, however, denied any manual scavenging in the jails in the Capital.

The court directed the Delhi Government to appoint adequate staff for cleaning of washrooms and toilets in the jail complexes.

The condition of the washrooms on the jail premises was not satisfactory and that cleaning work was carried out in toilets voluntarily by the inmates, the report said. It added that some inmates were being paid remuneration, while others were not paid properly.

The report mentioned that inmates were not provided with cleaning gears and toiletries. Meanwhile, some toilets were not even in working condition and required renovation.

The court disposed of the plea and directed the Delhi Government to seek assistance of NGOs or employ people on contractual basis for the purpose of cleaning of toilets in jails, if necessary.

It also directed that inmates who voluntarily clean toilets should be suitably paid at least minimum wages and provided with cleaning gear, including gloves, masks, boots and toiletries. The court ordered an inspection of the washrooms within two weeks, and if any renovation is required, suitable proposals should be submitted within the following two weeks.

It further directed that the renovation work be done in a phased manner to ensure that washrooms and toilets are available to all inmates at all times.

Septic tanks should be constructed inside the jails if needed, and the entire renovation work must be completed within four months, the Bench stated. The court also said if the number of toilets needs to be increased, this should be done by the Delhi Government. The court directed the Delhi Government to file an action-taken report within eight weeks and listed the case for compliance on October 22.