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Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Toilets in petrol pumps not for public use: Kerala HC
KOCHI: Kerala high court, in an interim order, directed the state govt not to compel owners of petroleum retail outlets to provide public access to toilets located on their premises. Justice C S Dias gave the order on a petition filed by Petroleum Traders Welfare and Legal Service Society, a registered association of petroleum retail dealers, and four of its members who own petrol bunks, challenging the actions of local self-govt institutions, including Thiruvananthapuram corporation. The petitioners opposed the authorities' move to convert privately maintained toilets within petrol bunks into public toilets, citing the revised guidelines of the Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban. The revised norms mandate public access to toilets at high-footfall locations, including petrol pumps, to improve urban sanitation, and the implementation lies with local bodies. The court adjourned the matter to July 17. The petitioners alleged that local authorities were illegally treating these privately maintained toilets as public facilities. Petitioners cite fire risk The petitioners claimed that posters had been pasted in conspicuous areas of the toilets, including on switches, apparently for collecting public feedback. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo QR code-enabled posters seeking feedback had also been affixed inside the toilets, they stated. As a result of these measures, many members of the public approach retail outlets demanding toilet access, disrupting the regular operations of the petrol pumps. Tourist buses often arrive at these outlets, insisting that passengers be allowed to use the toilets, the petitioners said. The petitioners also raised serious security concerns, contending that unauthorised public access to fuel retail outlets would significantly increase the risk of fire and other catastrophic incidents, given the influx of people into what is a high risk, restricted area.
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Toilets at petrol pump cannot be used as public facilities, says Kerala HC
The Kerala High Court has temporarily barred the state and local bodies from turning toilets at privately run petrol pumps into public conveniences, LiveLaw reported. Justice CS Dias issued the order while hearing a writ petition filed by the Petroleum Traders Welfare and Legal Service Society and five individual retailers. The petitioners argued that officials from the state government and Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation were pressuring them to let everyone use their restrooms. Posters had even been pasted on some pumps, creating 'the impression that the toilets are public toilets', they told the court. 'Public use disrupts daily operations' According to the petition, large groups — including tourists from passing buses — now arrive expecting free access. This crowds petrol-pump premises, causes arguments and, the retailers say, raises safety risks in an area where fuel is handled. The dealers maintain the washrooms were installed only for customers who stop to refuel and need them in an emergency. Allowing unrestricted entry would 'impede and even endanger the functioning of petrol pumps', they said. 'Hence in light of the impending threat and disastrous consequences which might ensue due to usage of such toilets by general public at large; it is essential that requisite directions may be passed by this Honourable Court to restrict usage of such toilets only to customers who come for refuelling their vehicles and that too only in emergency situations,' the petitioners submitted, as quoted by LiveLaw. Court seeks Swachh Bharat guidelines Earlier, the court directed the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation to produce any guidelines issued under the Swachh Bharat Mission that could justify opening private toilets to the public. The retailers have also asked for a declaration that their toilets are private property safeguarded by Article 300A of the Constitution, and that no law allows authorities to re-designate them as public facilities under the Petroleum Act or its 2002 Rules.
Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Only civil court can decide on a marriage's validity, not registrar, rules Kerala HC
K ochi: High court has ruled that a registrar of marriages is not authorised to cancel a marriage certificate merely because the parties later claim that the marriage was invalid. Any dispute regarding validity of a marriage must be resolved by a competent civil court. The ruling was made by Justice C S Dias while dismissing a petition filed by a couple challenging the registrar's order rejecting their joint request to cancel the marriage certificate, on the ground that their marriage had been improperly registered. However, the court preserved the petitioners' right to approach a competent civil court for appropriate relief. According to petitioners, they lived together for a short period in Nov 2014 and registered their marriage to avoid legal repercussions and social issues. Shortly thereafter, their relationship deteriorated, and they have been living separately for the past 10 years. They later approached the registrar seeking cancellation of the marriage certificate, claiming that their marriage was not solemnised under the Special Marriage Act, as they belonged to different religions — Muslim and Hindu. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo The registrar rejected their application, stating that there was no provision to cancel a marriage certificate under the applicable rules. This led the petitioners to approach HC, contending that Rule 13 of the Kerala Registration of Marriages (Common) Rules empowers the registrar to cancel the certificate. HC held that, once the petitioners voluntarily declared that their marriage had been solemnised and submitted supporting documents and oral testimony, the registrar was justified in registering the marriage. The petitioners cannot subsequently seek cancellation of the certificate simply by asserting that no valid marriage took place. The registrar does not have the jurisdiction to adjudicate such a disputed question of fact under Rule 13. Any dispute regarding the validity or existence of a marriage must be resolved by a competent civil court.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Plea in Kerala HC against converting fuel bunk toilets into public facilities as per revised Swachh guidelines
Kochi: A petition has been filed in the high court challenging the action of the local self-govt institutions, which convert the private toilets on the premises of the petroleum retail outlets to public toilets as per the revised guidelines of the Swachh Bharat Mission - Urban. Justice C S Dias, on the petition filed by the Petroleum Traders Welfare and Legal Service Society and four of its members who own petrol bunks, directed the govt to produce the revised guidelines of the Swachh Bharat Mission - Urban. The court further adjourned the petition to Monday. The petitioners stated in the petition that the local self-govt authorities were illegally converting/treating private toilets maintained within the premises of their retail outlets as public toilets and pasting posters on a conspicuous portion of the toilets along with certain switches that seem to indicate that the same is to be used for feedback. Similarly, posters including QR codes were also affixed in toilets for feedback, they stated. The petitioners argued that the alleged action of the local self-govt institutions is a violation of Article 300A of the Constitution, which guarantees protection from being deprived of the proper and independent enjoyment of private properties falling within the realm of private ownership. They further raised security concerns, contending that the decision would lead to unauthorised public access to petrol retail outlets, significantly increasing the risk of fire and other catastrophic incidents due to the influx of people in a restricted area. The petitioners further sought a directive to the state govt and the local self-govt institutions to refrain from converting/treating private toilets maintained within the premises of the petrol retail outlets within the state as public toilets and also for a general declaration against treating such private toilets as public toilets. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Time of India
Stary dog menace: Student moves Kerala HC
Kochi: Keerthana Sarin, a law student from Nedumangadu in Thiruvananthapuram, has approached high court seeking a directive to control the menace of stray dogs in the state, after being attacked by strays. The bench of Justice C S Dias sought instructions from the state on her petition and adjourned the matter to June 17. Keerthana stated that she was attacked by a group of stray dogs and bitten by one on May 30, while returning home from Nedumangad town. She further pointed out that residents of Nedumangad are facing a growing stray dog menace. Within a week after the attack on her, three to four similar incidents were reported in the area. The petitioner alleged that, despite several complaints to local authorities, no effective action has been taken. She has also sought a directive to constitute committees under Rule 24 of the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001, across the state, to control the stray dog population by capturing, sterilising and rehabilitating them in shelters within a fixed time frame. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
