Recently, the Delhi High Court directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to remove an open garbage bin and a public urinal from a residential area, holding that their presence violated the residents’ right to live with dignity.

The bench headed by Justice Amit Bansal passed the order while hearing a petition filed by advocate Rachit Gupta, who complained that the garbage bin and urinal were placed right outside his house and were being used by around 150 people from the locality. He told the Court that repeated requests to the authorities to maintain cleanliness went unanswered.

The MCD claimed that the public urinal was being cleaned regularly. However, the Court said this was not enough and noted that the situation continued to affect the petitioner’s fundamental rights.

A joint inspection conducted on August 7, 2025, to explore shifting the facilities found that the alternative site suggested by the petitioner was not suitable. The petitioner also argued that most houses in the area already had private toilets and that, under the Solid Waste Management Rules, garbage should be collected directly from homes rather than kept in open bins.

Taking these facts into account, the Court ordered the MCD to demolish the open garbage bin and public urinal next to the petitioner’s residence within four weeks. It also directed the civic body to provide a proper covered dustbin for dry and wet waste at a safe distance from residential houses.

Advocates Rachit Garg and Vaibhav Singh appeared for the MCD.