HC notice to state over lack of toilets for women at Naubat Pahad

Hyderabad: On Thursday, the Telangana High Court Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice N Tukaramji lamented the lack of basic sanitation facilities such as toilets for women residing at Sanjay Gandhi Nagar, earlier known as kodi gudiselu (hen huts), at Naubat Pahad in Hyderabad.

The court issued notices to the principal secretary, Municipal Administration and Urban Development and the GHMC commissioner, directing them to respond to a media report which highlighted the pathetic and deplorable living conditions of women. The report stated that women in the area are forced to defecate in the open hillocks before the sun rises or during nighttime due to the absence of toilets and running water.

The high court converted the letter of Justice T Vinod Kumar into a suo motu PIL through which the judge brought to the notice of the court that the women living in the Naubat Pahad area are deprived of a dignified life as they are not given access to toilets due to which they are forced to defecate openly in the hillocks. This had led to women falling from the hillocks in many instances.

Justice Vinod Kumar, in his letter to the chief justice, said that it is very unfortunate that the women in a developed city like Hyderabad are deprived of minimum basic amenities such as toilets. He said that the officials have conveniently ignored the representations made by the people seeking their help in getting toilets and basic amenities.

The case was adjourned to August 8.