NEW DELHI: After 75 years of being a Republic and a decade of Swachh Bharat Mission, absence of toilets in courts hauntingly impedes women lawyers from practicing, lamented Supreme Court Friday and drew a six-week deadline for states to construct washrooms for women advocates in all court complexes.A bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana said it would not entertain plea of paucity of funds from states to attempt wriggling out of this judicial mandate. “States can raise additional funds for this purpose, if needed, by increasing levy on liquor and tobacco products,” it said. SC said, “The absence of adequate number of clean washrooms for women advocates is a serious human rights and health issue. Paucity of clean washrooms in taluka-level, district courts and even in some high courts impedes women lawyers from practicing. It is also a question of human dignity and health for female lawyers.” SC requested AG to give his feedback on creation of such a fund in six weeks.
