‘Loo’ming problem for lawyers in mofussil courts

She and many other women lawyers have been quietly putting up with the ill maintenance and sometimes the nonexistence of toilets for women at these mofussil courts, forcing them to use the men's rooms.

According to lawyers, Tambaram, Poonamallee, Sriperumbadur and Chengalpettu are the main courts that have the worst facilities compared with other courts. "We have to shuttle between courts for different cases and therefore spend at least three to four hours travelling, then when we reach the court, we don’t even have a place to wash our faces and if there is a place then there is no water," said an advocate.

Another advocate said she often pays the person in charge of the toilet to make arrangements for water. If toilets are available, doors to the toilet would be missing. No repair work is ever carried out and ones that have doors are forever locked. "They might be keeping the doors locked for safety or cleanliness reasons, but there should be a sign saying from where the key can be collected and returned. By the time I locate the key and use the restroom, half the day is gone," said advocate Kavitha Thirumurugan.

Women lawyers allege that sometimes the staff refuses to part with the keys even when requested for or declare that the keys are lost. "Forget about us, what about pregnant women, most advocates work till they are seven months pregnant how are they supposed to manage. Even for diabetic women, like myself it is extremely hard. We can’t even go near the toilets let alone enter it because of the bad stench, dirt everywhere and no proper dustbins. We are risking our health due to these conditions, making ourselves more prone to diseases,” Alamelu said.

V. Nalini, presidents, Women Lawyers Association, said the authorities have to take more steps to provide better facilities for women in courts. The responsibility for the court maintenance lies with the chief judge and the public works department of the mofussil court. When contacted, some judges said changes would be made while others refused to comment on it.