Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) officials and staff responsible for neglected public and community toilets will face disciplinary action, the civic body has told the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court. The corporation has also committed to taking corrective steps within 24 hours of receiving complaints about unhygienic conditions.
The undertaking was submitted in writing during the hearing of a public interest litigation filed by advocate Sandeep Badana, who raised concerns about poor conditions and alleged irregularities in the upkeep of public toilets. The matter was heard by Justice Anil Kilor and Justice Rajnish Vyas.
According to the civic body’s statement, responsibility for routine cleaning and maintenance has been assigned to sanitation inspectors in the respective wards. These inspectors are also responsible for ensuring that public and community toilets meet hygiene standards.
Zonal officers will monitor whether sanitation inspectors are carrying out their assigned duties, the NMC told the court. The arrangement places responsibility at multiple levels of the municipal administration, from ward-level cleaning operations to zonal supervision.
Residents can report unhygienic conditions or lapses in cleaning to the concerned zonal officer or assistant commissioner. Complaints can also be registered through the NMC’s public grievance portal. Once a complaint is received, the sanitation inspector concerned must take the necessary corrective action within 24 hours.
The civic body said officers and employees who delay the resolution of complaints, neglect cleanliness or fail to perform their assigned duties would face disciplinary proceedings under the applicable service rules. It also informed the court that the system would be implemented effectively and that future directions issued by the court would be followed.
The case places the day-to-day upkeep of public toilets within a formal accountability chain rather than treating complaints only as isolated maintenance issues. The NMC’s response identifies sanitation inspectors as the immediate response officials and zonal officers as the monitoring authority, while also providing residents with administrative and online channels for escalation.
Badana argued the matter in person, while advocate A S Mehadia appeared for the municipal corporation. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for November 30.
