Chennai: In a move that could finally bring numerous unregistered women's hostels in the city under the scanner functioning in abysmal conditions, the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court has said that unlicensed hostels would soon be liable for criminal action.
A Division Bench of Justices K.K.Sasidharan and P.D.Audikesavalu directed notice to the state saying that women's hostels would have to register themselves within a month, failing which criminal action would be initiated. The district authorities would conduct inspections starting February 15 to 29. From March 1, action would be taken, the bench said. This was in response to a petition filed by K.Kathiresan of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC).
He cited the example of the case in Tiruchi where the hostel owner in the guise of renovation had installed spy cameras in bedrooms. Though the man behind the act was arrested, such crime against women has increased. He sought a direction to enforce the Act effectively, ask collectors to look into violations and look into the issue of bribe being accepted for the issue of certificates.
On August 28, 2018, DC had carried a report highlighting the poor conditions at a number of hostels, including lack of space, poor quality of food and hostels functioning out of residential spaces. They also lacked a number of approvals.
The Tamil Nadu Hostels and Homes for Women and Children (Regulation) Act, 2014, introduced to regulate the licensing and registration process of hostels along with ensuring safety and security of women and children is completely disregarded by hostel operators. Each resident according to the act has to have at least 120 sq ft of space allocated to her. Most hostels, however, had a minimum of four women living in that space.
Further, the electricity and water connections are taken as domestic connections by hostel operators without any inspection from authorities. "If it is a commercial establishment, a commercial connection, with different charges need to be given. Bribes are given and rules are flouted and the tariff for electricity, water and LPG gas is the same as for domestic usage," says Unnikrishnan, president of the Canal Bank Road Residents Association.
Welcoming the move, Unnikrishnan urges the government to construct homes to help women. "Most women move to cities in search of a better living. We must ensure better living standards for them. The government should construct more hostels for them."
