$~49 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI # CNR No. DLHC010370632026 + W.P.(C) 11516/2026 SHANNU BAGHEL .....Petitioner Through: Petitioner in person. versus DELHI METRO RAIL CORPORATION LTD .....Respondent Through: Mr. Tarun Johri, Adv. with Mr.Ankur Gupta, Adv. for DMRC. CORAM: HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE TEJAS KARIA O R D E R % 12.08.2026 CM APPL. 53325/2026 (for exemption) 1. Allowed, subject to all just exceptions. 2. The application stands disposed of. W.P.(C) 11516/2026 3. Heard the petitioner, who appears in person and learned counsel for the respondent. 4. This Public Interest Litigation petition seeks a prayer for issuing a direction to the respondent – Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited [“DMRC”] to provide adequate public conveniences including clean and functional toilets within the premises of all metro stations including both in paid and unpaid areas. This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 17/08/2026 at 11:53:38 5. Available on record of this writ petition is a reply containing a letter dated 08.07.2025, which is addressed to the petitioner under Right to Information Act, 2005, wherein it has clearly been disclosed by the DMRC that all the DMRC metro stations are having toilet facilities and further that separate washrooms for men, women and persons with disabilities/transgender are also available which are functional and available for use with a nominal fee. The letter further discloses that some metro stations also provide free toilet facilities. 6. As per the said reply, the toilet complexes undergo daily cleaning and regular maintenance is done to ensure hygienic and functionality of the toilets. 7. Dissatisfied by the said reply, the instant Public Interest Litigation petition has been instituted primarily with the complaint that such facilities are not available in the paid area, i.e. the areas where a passenger is allowed to enter after purchasing the ticket. 8. The facilities of public conveniences are to be provided keeping in view the architecture, structure and functionality of the metro station concerned. No one can deny that non-availability of adequate public conveniences at metro stations may affect the health and even sometime dignity of a passenger, however, from a perusal of the reply given to the petitioner under Right to Information Act, 2005, it appears that these facilities are available in adequate measure at the metro stations in Delhi. 9. The issue which remained to be addressed by the respondent – DMRC is the alleged non-availability of the public conveniences within the paid areas of the metro stations. As already observed above, it depends on the functional needs of the metro station as to at which particular place the This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 17/08/2026 at 11:53:38 facility shall be provided. 10. If, however, the petitioner can point out any particular metro station, where such facility is needed in paid areas despite availability of the facilities outside the said paid areas, it may be pointed out by the petitioner to the respondent – DMRC by way of making a representation within a fortnight from today. 11. The petitioner has also made a prayer seeking a direction to be issued to the respondent – DMRC to provide the facility of baby feeder rooms/breast feeding rooms and infant care rooms at all metro stations. For the said purpose as well, the petitioner may make a representation with the authorities of the respondent – DMRC and if any representation is made, the same shall be attended to and adequate permissible steps without impacting the functionality of the metro stations concerned, shall be taken. 12. The writ petition stands disposed of in the aforesaid terms. DEVENDRA KUMAR UPADHYAYA, CJ TEJAS KARIA, J AUGUST 12, 2026 “shailndra” This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 17/08/2026 at 11:53:38