A collective of women lawyers has reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, raising alarm over the absence of proper toilet facilities for women at the Maharashtra State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (SCDRC) in Mumbai.
In their letter, the Interactive Lawyers Association for Women described the situation as both inconvenient and unacceptable. According to their statement, the Old Sachivalaya building, which houses the SCDRC, has only one washroom on the ground floor—and it is exclusively for men. Women working at the commission or appearing for cases must go to the first floor, where they share limited restroom facilities with other occupants of the building.
The lawyers underscored that basic sanitation is not a luxury but a fundamental right, calling it an essential workplace requirement. They also pointed out the irony of such conditions persisting in an urban legal institution despite national sanitation initiatives.
Previously, the association had successfully advocated for sanitary pad vending machines in the Bombay High Court and a crèche facility for legal professionals. Now, they are demanding immediate action to rectify this oversight at the consumer commission.
The letter further referenced Modi’s Swachh Bharat Mission, highlighting how the lack of facilities at the SCDRC contradicts the campaign’s core principles. Urging swift intervention, the group has also sent a copy of their appeal to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, seeking immediate resolution of the issue.