The Delhi High Court highlighted the issue of prisoners waiting up to three hours each morning to use toilets, urging the installation of more restrooms in jails. The court also directed jail authorities to pay inmates at least minimum wage for cleaning duties and to hire additional staff to manage the workload.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court instructed the Delhi government to consider increasing the number of toilets in the city’s jails. This decision came after it was revealed that some inmates face nearly three-hour waits in the morning to use restroom facilities.
A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela tasked the Public Works Department (PWD) with inspecting all jails in the national capital. They have been given two weeks to assess the condition of the toilets and washrooms.
The Court stated,
“If repair work is to be done, it shall be done in two weeks. If the number of toilets is to be increased, that shall also be done. Septic tanks, if required, shall also be constructed forthwith.”
Additionally, the Court addressed concerns about inmates being forced to clean toilets with their bare hands without any compensation.
It directed the jail authorities to hire additional staff and ensure that inmates involved in cleaning work receive at least the minimum wage. The authorities have also been ordered to provide gloves and other protective gear to those involved in cleaning tasks.
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The Court issued these directives in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Anuj Malhotra. The PIL claimed that the state of toilets in Delhi’s prisons was deplorable and that manual scavenging was taking place within these facilities.
Previously, the Court mandated inspections of all jails in the capital. The resulting report indicated that although manual scavenging was not occurring, the toilets’ condition was subpar, with inmates responsible for cleaning them.
The Court scheduled the next hearing for October 22 to ensure compliance with its orders.
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