Madras High Court Directs Tamil Nadu to Report on School Sanitation Facilities

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Thursday directed the Tamil Nadu government to file a report detailing toilet facilities and sanitary workers in all government schools across the state. The order came during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by advocate G. Thirumurugan, highlighting severe deficiencies at the Government Girls Higher Secondary School in Othakadai, Madurai.

Acting on the petition, a division bench comprising Justices A.D. Jagadish Chandira and R. Poornima instructed the authorities to assess the actual requirement of sanitary workers, toilets, compound walls, physical education teachers, watchmen, incinerators, and water facilities at the school. The bench also called for immediate steps to sanction and fill these posts.

The petitioner argued that the school, which caters to approximately 3,000 girl students, has seen a steady increase in enrollment but continues to function without adequate permanent sanitary workers. Instead, the school relies on temporarily outsourced sanitation workers for cleaning and maintenance. This arrangement, the petition claims, has led to poor hygiene and unsanitary conditions, directly affecting the health and dignity of the students.

Highlighting the link between sanitation and education, the petitioner noted that the lack of clean, properly maintained toilets and the absence of incinerators on campus have a disproportionate impact on girl students. Access to adequate facilities is intrinsically connected to menstrual hygiene, privacy, and health. Many students reportedly avoid using toilets during school hours, leading to health complications and reduced concentration, which hampers educational performance.

The petition emphasised that the state has a constitutional and statutory obligation under Article 21A of the Indian Constitution to ensure a safe and hygienic learning environment. The right to education cannot be confined to classroom teaching alone; it includes the provision of infrastructure that enables students to learn and develop to their fullest potential.

The court has adjourned the matter to July 30, giving the state government time to prepare and submit the report. The case underscores ongoing concerns about the quality of infrastructure in government schools, particularly for girls, and the need for sustained investment in sanitation and hygiene.