India Supreme Court Rejects Mandatory Menstrual Leave PIL

The Supreme Court of India on Friday declined to entertain a public interest litigation seeking a nationwide policy to mandate menstrual leave for women students and employees, expressing concerns that such a requirement could reinforce gender stereotypes and hinder women's job opportunities. The bench, comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, heard the petition filed by advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi in New Delhi and advised the petitioner to approach relevant authorities for further consideration.

The petition urged the court to direct the government to enact a uniform law providing paid menstrual leave, arguing it aligned with women's fundamental right to dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution. Tripathi's counsel, senior advocate M. R. Shamshad, highlighted existing voluntary measures in several states and institutions to support the plea. For instance, Kerala has implemented menstrual cycle relaxations in state-run educational institutions since 2013, while Odisha, Karnataka, and others offer up to 60 days of annual leave for students experiencing menstrual pain in public universities. Private entities, including the National Law Institute...