Kerala High Court Orders 24/7 Public Access to Toilets at National Highway Petrol Pumps

The Kerala High Court today has modified its earlier interim order to mandate that all petroleum retail outlets located along National Highways in the state keep their washrooms open to the public 24/7.

Oil marketing companies and their dealers may restrict access only when security or safety concerns exist.

Justice Dias, modified the order, while hearing the writ petition challenging the attempts made by the State Government and the local self-government institutions to convert the toilets in the outlets into public toilets.

Hence, the Court clarified that access to toilets can be restricted only if there is a safety concern.

[Petroleum Traders Welfare and Legal Service Society v State of Kerala]