Himachal: 52 toilets built for the disabled and transgender in judicial complexes

Himachal Pradesh: The Himachal Pradesh government has taken the lead in constructing toilets for persons with disabilities and transgender individuals in judicial complexes across the state, in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directives. An official spokesperson for the Public Works Department (PWD) stated here today that toilets have been constructed in all Lok Adalat and Tribunal complexes. He stated that as of October 9th, the department had constructed 52 such toilets (27 for transgenders and 25 for persons with disabilities) in judicial court complexes in Shimla, Kangra, Solan, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Una, Mandi, Chamba, and Kinnaur districts. He added that construction of the remaining 34 toilets in Sirmaur, Kullu, and other judicial court complexes is in progress.
In addition, 13 more toilets will be constructed in court complexes this year, as land becomes available, for which the process of identifying land is underway. Rules 10(5) and 10(9) of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules, 2020 provide for the construction of specific infrastructure, including toilets, for such persons in establishments, and this responsibility has been assigned to the concerned government. A committee was formed under the chairmanship of Justice Satyen Vaidya, with the Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary (Finance), Secretary of the Public Works Department, Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department, and President of the Bar Association as members. To expedite the process, a sub-committee was formed under the chairmanship of District and Sessions Court Judges to monitor progress and ensure the construction of facilities for persons with disabilities in all judicial complexes.