The Kerala High Court has clarified that toilets at petrol pumps are intended exclusively for customers and cannot be mandated for use by the general public. The Court emphasized that privately maintained facilities at petroleum outlets are not required to function as public conveniences.
The judgment came while considering a plea filed by a petrol pump owner in Thiruvananthapuram, who challenged a directive from the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation that instructed fuel outlets to keep their toilets open for public use.
The Court observed that petrol pumps are private commercial establishments, and the responsibility to provide public sanitation facilities lies with the State and local self-governments. It further held that forcing private outlets to bear this responsibility was unreasonable, especially since these facilities are constructed and maintained at the expense of the fuel station owners, primarily for the convenience of their customers.
The High Court directed both the State Government and the Municipal Corporation not to insist further that petrol pumps provide toilet access to the general public. It also reminded the authorities of their obligation to develop and maintain dedicated public sanitation infrastructure, particularly in urban areas.
This verdict is expected to bring clarity to a long-standing issue and is likely to influence policy decisions related to sanitation responsibilities in private commercial spaces.
