Delhi High Court Resolves Contempt Petition Over Women’s Faculty Toilet at Jamia Millia Islamia

New Delhi, September 8 (Daily Kiran) : The Delhi High Court has settled a contempt petition filed by a senior professor at Jamia Millia Islamia, addressing the need for separate toilet facilities for women faculty members, including those with disabilities. The court’s decision came on September 8, 2026, after the university assured that a dedicated toilet would be established on the second floor for female faculty and disabled women.

Justice Mini Pushkarna presided over the case, noting the university’s commitment to allocate a specific toilet for women faculty and disabled individuals, while also ensuring separate arrangements for disabled men. The contempt petition was brought forth by Professor Sujata Aishwarya, who claimed that the university had failed to comply with judicial directives issued in March regarding the maintenance of clean toilet facilities.

During the proceedings, Aishwarya’s lawyer highlighted that the existing toilet on the second floor, which was supposed to be designated for women and disabled individuals, was being used by both men and women. The lawyer, Mrinmay Chatterjee, argued that the facility should be exclusively reserved for women.

In response, the university’s counsel confirmed that the toilet would indeed be set aside for female faculty members and disabled women. Justice Pushkarna acknowledged this assurance in her ruling, stating that the facility would be made available within a week, with separate provisions for disabled men.

The court emphasized that the dedicated toilet for women faculty would remain accessible to all female staff, with no individual permitted to lock the facility. As the court concluded the contempt proceedings, it stated that no further orders were necessary given the university’s commitments.

This issue originated from a complaint by Professor Aishwarya regarding a restroom at the university’s Center for West Asian Studies. She raised concerns about cleanliness and her medical condition, which made accessing certain facilities difficult. In a previous order on March 13, the court recognized the complaint as a workplace-related issue that should have remained within the university’s administrative purview.

The court noted that Aishwarya, a senior professor with over two decades of service, had utilized a restroom in the center. However, after new rules were implemented, the condition of the facility deteriorated. She requested permission to use a separate restroom equipped with a Western-style toilet due to her knee issues, which made squatting difficult.

Following her complaint, the university initiated disciplinary action against her, including issuing a show-cause notice, forming a committee, and demanding a written apology. The High Court subsequently annulled these actions, indicating that the university’s response seemed to conflate institutional discipline with the need to address cleanliness and respect.

Justice Sanjeev Narula remarked that such complaints required dialogue rather than escalation. The court reiterated that clean and usable toilet facilities are fundamental workplace requirements and directed the Jamia Millia Islamia administration to reconsider Aishwarya’s concerns with sensitivity, taking into account her privacy and medical condition.

After the court’s order on March 13, the university sought a review, arguing that adequate cleanliness measures were already in place. However, Justice Narula dismissed the review petition on April 15, stating that the university failed to demonstrate any clear error in the record warranting a review.