The Madras High Court in the case Women Lawyers Association of Nilgiris v The Registrar, Madras High Court And Ors observed and has directed the listing of petitions concerning the lack of toilets for female lawyers at Nilgiris Court Complex before an appropriate Bench. The court listed the petitioner to be next heard in the first week of July, 2023.
The Apex Court in the case observed and has directed the Madras High Court administration in its order dated 09.07.2023 to submit through its Registrar General a detailed report by 11.07.2023 on the issue of lack of toilet complexes for the women lawyers in the Nilgiris Court Complex.
Therefore, it has also been noted by the Apex Court in the court that while the Registrar General had earlier filed a report in the matter, the same was not a detailed one and the same does not specify the facilities for women lawyers which were being provided for in the new court complex and as to whether there was any shrinkage of such kind of facilities which were earlier being available.
The bench comprising of Justice Aniruddha Bose and Justice Rajesh Bindal in its order stated that the terms of our direction passed on 09.06.2023, thus, the Registrar General of the Madras High Court filed a detailed report wherein it the court give full particulars of the facilities which are available. At present, the petitioner in the case does not have any grievance.
Therefore, the court passed the said order in a miscellaneous application filed by the Women Lawyers Association of Nilgiris and the application was taken up by the Court on its own motion, while considering the nature of grievances of the women lawyers of the Nilgiris district which are projected in a news report.
However, the present application was filed by Women Lawyers Association of Nilgiris wherein an earlier writ petition filed by Nilgiris District Bar Association.
The Supreme Court disposed of the writ petition filed by Nilgiris District Bar Association on 29.04.2023 while taking note of the submission made on behalf of the Madras High Court that necessary steps have been taken.
The court in the case observed and has given the liberty to the Association to approach the District Judge or the Registrar General of the High Court for redressal of any subsisting grievances.
The present plea is considered by the bench comprising of CJI DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha.
Further, the National Commission For Women while acting upon a complaint filed by a lawyer, urged the Madras High Court Registrar in order to take immediate cognizance of the lack of toilets for female lawyers at the Nilgiris Court Complex.
Thus, the Commission asked the Registrar in order to communicate the steps taken within three days.
Accordingly, the listed the matter to be next heard on next week of July, 2023.
