Toilets in petrol pumps not for public use: Kerala HC

KOCHI: Kerala high court, in an interim order, directed the state govt not to compel owners of petroleum retail outlets to provide public access to toilets located on their premises.Justice C S Dias gave the order on a petition filed by Petroleum Traders Welfare and Legal Service Society, a registered association of petroleum retail dealers, and four of its members who own petrol bunks, challenging the actions of local self-govt institutions, including Thiruvananthapuram corporation.The petitioners opposed the authorities’ move to convert privately maintained toilets within petrol bunks into public toilets, citing the revised guidelines of the Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban.

The revised norms mandate public access to toilets at high-footfall locations, including petrol pumps, to improve urban sanitation, and the implementation lies with local bodies. The court adjourned the matter to July 17.

The petitioners alleged that local authorities were illegally treating these privately maintained toilets as public facilities.Petitioners cite fire riskThe petitioners claimed that posters had been pasted in conspicuous areas of the toilets, including on switches, apparently for collecting public feedback.

QR code-enabled posters seeking feedback had also been affixed inside the toilets, they stated.As a result of these measures, many members of the public approach retail outlets demanding toilet access, disrupting the regular operations of the petrol pumps. Tourist buses often arrive at these outlets, insisting that passengers be allowed to use the toilets, the petitioners said.The petitioners also raised serious security concerns, contending that unauthorised public access to fuel retail outlets would significantly increase the risk of fire and other catastrophic incidents, given the influx of people into what is a high risk, restricted area.