CLPR represented two young women advocates who were impleaded in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition filed in the Supreme Court of India seeking infrastructural improvements for women lawyers in various courts across the country. While the main petition focused on the establishment of operational Ladies’ Bar Rooms in courts, the impleadment application of the two Petitioners drew attention to the lack of clean and functional washrooms for women lawyers at courts in Karnataka. It also highlighted the lack of women advocates’ bar rooms, creches and other infrastructural facilities in courts across the state.
In the Impleadment Application filed on behalf of the two Applicants, who are women advocates practising in Karnataka, CLPR along with several women lawyers in Karnataka, had carried out a comprehensive survey on the infrastructural deficits in courts, especially impacting women lawyers. This survey had drawn almost 110 responses across more than 20 districts of the state at the time of impleading.
In their application, the Applicants highlighted that about 16% of respondents across 8 districts had reported there being no women’s washrooms in the courts where they primarily practised, and 42% said that even where available, they were completely unusable as they were unclean and ill-maintained. It was also stated that the lack of functional washrooms was having an adverse impact on the health of women lawyers. Other issues highlighted in the application included that a significant majority, 60% of survey responses, had reported the lack of any provision of sanitary napkins in courts, and 55% had said there was no mechanism to dispose of sanitary waste. Women advocates’ bar rooms and creches were also reported to be unavailable at many courts.
The Impleadment Application was allowed by the Supreme Court in its order dated 17 July 2026. Stating that access to a washroom amounts to an inalienable and universal fundamental right traceable to Article 21 of the Constitution, the Supreme Court observed that the lack of toilets for women lawyers is prima facie discriminatory and violative of Articles 14 and 15, and also raises concerns in relation to the freedom to practice the profession under Article 19(1)(g). The Court noted, significantly, that ‘no institutional efforts to improve participation of women lawyers in the profession, especially in the Courts, will bear any fruit until it is ensured that women can work in courtrooms in a healthy and dignified manner.’
In view of the above, the court directed all Advocates-General to obtain fact-finding reports on the existence and state of women’s washrooms in High Courts, District Courts and Taluka Courts within 2 weeks. It added that based on these reports, a proposal would be placed before State/Union Territory Governments for allocation of special funds to construct washrooms and ensure accompanying water and sanitation facilities. State/Union Territory Governments are also required to file status reports before the court within 6 weeks, highlighting information received and work undertaken to construct the women’s washrooms.
The court emphasised in its order that access to washrooms is a ‘basic human right ’, and non-availability of funds in any state would not be a justifiable reason for failure to provide the same.
The matter is listed for further orders before the three-judge bench on 11 September 2026.