Shameful That All Girls And Female Staff Are Compelled To Urinate In Open: Chhattisgarh HC Takes Suo Moto Cognizance Of Sanitation Crisis In Govt Schools
The report revealed that 150 government schools in the district lack toilets, while over 200 schools have toilets that are in a state of disrepair and are unusable.

The Chhattisgarh High Court took suo moto cognizance of a newspaper report published in Dainik Bhaskar, which highlighted severe sanitation issues in schools across the Bilaspur District.
The report revealed that 150 government schools in the district lack toilets, while over 200 schools have toilets that are in a state of disrepair and are unusable.
The newspaper article detailed the adverse effects of the lack of toilets on students and staff, particularly female students and teachers. Due to the absence of proper sanitation facilities, students and staff are forced to relieve themselves in open areas. The report also mentioned that many female teachers have been adopting unhealthy practices, such as drinking less water to avoid the need to use the toilet. In some extreme cases, female teachers are reportedly paying Rs. 200 per month to use toilets in nearby residents' homes.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal held, “The plight of the students and the staff, especially the girl child and lady staff can be very well understood when they are compelled to go for answering the nature’s call in an open area which is a matter of shame for all. The said situation can lead to any untoward incident as the girl child and female staff are vulnerable to the antisocial elements of the society. The children studying in the school and the staff of the schools are definitely entitled to a much better environment so far as hygiene is concerned.”
The Court questioned how such a dire situation could persist despite the state allocating significant funds each year for education. The Court said, “It is beyond understanding as to when there is no dearth of funds and crores of rupees is being invested by the State every year, how the aforesaid situation is prevailing and what the authorities responsible for management of the Schools are doing? The aforesaid situation may also be one of the reasons as to why, especially the girl students leave the schools and do not complete their primary education.”
The Court added, “Further, if the teaching staff has to struggle for the most basic amenity of a clean toilet, how can it be expected that they would perform their duty with full dedication especially when the aforesaid situation is taking a toll in the form of their ill health and infections. It is the high time when the responsible authorities of the State are required to wake up from the deep slumber and take concrete steps for betterment of the prevailing situation”
The Court instructed the Secretary of the School Education Department, Government of Chhattisgarh (respondent No. 2), to file a personal affidavit addressing the issue before the next hearing date, scheduled for February 10.
Cause Title: In The Matter Of Suo Moto Public Interest Litigation v. State Of Chhattisgarh & Ors.
Appearance:
Respondents: Advocate General Prafull N Bharat assisted by Deputy Advocate General Shashank Thakur
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