New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday disposed of a petition seeking menstrual leave for girl students and working women, asking the petitioners to appeal to the central government instead.
A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala said that there was a “policy dimension” in the matter, and the petitioner should approach the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development.
The CJI said: “With regard to the policy dimension in the matter, the petitioner may approach the Ministry of Women and Child to file a representation.”
Bench, however, Agreed With one caveat being the law student’s submission that “if such a leave is forced, it would actually act as a disincentive to engage women as employees”.
The PIL stated that menstruation was largely disregarded by “society, governments and other stakeholders”. It urged the apex court to direct the state governments to frame rules for menstrual pain leave. The petition also mentions that Bihar is the only state in India which had provided special menstrual pain leave under its 1992 policy.
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