Construction of over 100 toilets for transgender people in Delhi : a significant advancement

An initiative for gender equality

It is neither fundamentally nor morally right to ask a person of a specific gender to use public toilets designed for another gender. This statement was at the heart of a petition recently presented to the Delhi High Court.

Recognition and action by city authorities

Last Monday, the city authorities informed the Delhi High Court that over 100 toilets had been specially constructed for exclusive use by transgender people in the capital. According to the council of the Delhi Social Welfare Department, 102 of these toilets have already been built, and 194 others are under construction. Continuous efforts are being made to ensure that these initiatives are carried out quickly.

The role of the New Delhi Municipal Council

During this hearing, the council of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) also shared relevant information. It was revealed that 12 toilets for transgender people are already operational in the area under its jurisdiction. Moreover, tenders for the construction of 79 other toilets have been awarded.

Background of the petition

The High Court was examining a petition filed by Jasmine Kaur Chhabra. She sought a directive for the construction of separate toilets for the third gender. The main reason being that the absence of such facilities exposes the transgender population to risks of sexual assault and harassment.

In a 2014 judgment titled “National State Legal Authority vs. Union of India”, the Supreme Court had recognized the third gender, including transgender people. It had stated that the central and state governments should take appropriate measures to provide medical care to transgender people in hospitals and offer them separate public toilets and other facilities.

Reaction of the High Court

After observing the progress made by the authorities, the High Court stated that it would make a decision on the petition. It had previously warned against non-compliance with its directives regarding the construction of public toilets for transgender people. It had highlighted that, although the construction process was underway, no toilets were yet completed as of March 14.

In conclusion, this initiative marks an important step towards recognizing and equalizing the rights of transgender people in society. The construction of these toilets is a step forward towards a more inclusive and respectful city for all its citizens.