The Allahabad High Court has sought a personal affidavit from the Under Secretary, Home, Government of Uttar Pradesh on a PIL demanding the provision of basic amenities like women toilets, clean drinking water and fans in police stations of Prayagraj.
The Division Bench of Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Gajendra Kumar passed this order while hearing a PIL filed by Diksha and six others.
The petition has been preferred for a direction to respondents to provide basic amenities such as toiletries, pure drinking water, proper fans, dustbins, washrooms, restrooms etc in the police stations in the District Prayagraj in view of privacy and dignity of women.
The Additional Chief Standing Counsel has informed that for a similar cause of action Public Interest Litigation (PIL) No 228 of 2021 (Anjali Pandey & Ors v State of U.P & Ors) had already been filed in which following order was passed on 8.3.2021:-
“Petitioner no.1 and petitioner no.12 are present in person.
The Standing Counsel appears for the State.
It is stated on behalf of the State of Uttar Pradesh that effective steps have been taken by fixing the agency for construction of women’s toilets in respective police stations.
In that event, let an affidavit be filed by Secretary, Home in respect of steps taken by the State in furtherance of order dated 17.02.2021 by fixing an agency for construction of ladies toilets in respective police stations in the State of Uttar Pradesh. Let the affidavit be filed on or before 15.03.2021.
It is made clear that if the affidavit as has been sought vide this order is not filed on or before 15.03.2021, the Secretary, Home shall remain personally present on 16.03.2021 at 10 AM.
List on 16.03.2021.”
The Court noted that,
In compliance with the aforesaid order, a status report on affidavit of Secretary, Home, Government of U.P Lucknow has been filed on 16.3.2021 in the aforesaid proceeding.
The grievance of the petitioners is that in spite of assurance till date no substantial progress is reflected and still the State Government has not taken any effective steps for construction of women toilets in respective police stations across the state.
“Let the matter be connected and listed along with a record of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) No 228 of 2021 before the appropriate Court on 17.7.2023. Meanwhile, the Under Secretary, Home, Government of U.P shall file an affidavit indicating the progress towards allotment of funds and other necessary steps, which were taken in the matter”, the Court ordered.