Delhi HC proposes surprise inspections of public toilets by social work students

The Delhi High Court has proposed surprise inspections of public toilets across the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) area by teams of students from three social work institutions to assess their cleanliness, hygiene and structural condition.

A Bench of Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma said access to hygienic public toilets was part of the right to life. It stressed that civic authorities were duty-bound not only to provide such facilities but also to ensure their proper maintenance.

The court requested the principals or directors of Jamia Millia Islamia’s College of Social Work, the Department of Social Work at Delhi University (DU), and Aditi Mahavidyalaya (DU) to constitute teams of male and female students to carry out the inspections.

The teams will submit reports, along with photographs, to the MCD Additional Commissioner in charge of sanitation. The officer will initiate appropriate action based on the findings and hold the Deputy Commissioner of the concerned zone accountable if any lapses are detected.