The Supreme Court is set to frame guidelines to protect women’s health, dignity, and privacy concerning menstruation, prompted by an incident where sanitation workers were forced to prove they were menstruating. The court expressed concern over ‘period-shaming’ and issued notices to the Centre, acknowledging the SCBA’s petition highlighting widespread such violations. NEW DELHI: Taking cognisance of a recent incident of three women sanitation workers of Maharshi Dayanand University in Haryana being compelled to send photographs of their sanitary pads to prove they were menstruating, Supreme Court on Friday decided to examine framing of guidelines to ensure that the right to health, dignity, bodily autonomy and privacy of women and girls is not violated when they are going through menstruation.A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and R Mahadevan expressed concern over ‘period-shaming’ incidents in educational institutions and working places, and said it showed the mentality of people.SC issued notice to the Centre and its ministries concerned on a petition filed by Supreme Court Bar Association which told the court there had been many instances of ‘period-shaming’ and pleaded the court to intervene.SCBA president Vikas Singh and other office bearers including Aparna Bhat and Pragya Baghel, told the court there was an urgent need for guidelines enforceable across India with an aim of fostering dignity and workplace inclusivity and upholding women’s right to health. They submitted that the Haryana incident was not a solitary one and many such cases have been reported across the country.”These incidents of women and girls being subjected to invasive and degrading checks in various institutional settings to check whether they are menstruating is in gross violation of their right to life, dignity, privacy and bodily integrity under Article 21 of the Constitution. Women workers, especially unorganised workers, have a right to decent working conditions which respect their biological differences and make room for adequate concessions such that they are not subject to humiliating checks when they are suffering from menstruation-related pain and discomfort,” SCBA said in its petition.SC after a brief hearing sought response from the Centre and appreciated SCBA for taking up this issue. It also said that if a woman worker on account of menstruation was unable to perform heavy tasks, another employee could have been assigned. “If someone is saying that because of this reason heavy work could not be done, it could have been accepted and some other persons could have deployed. We hope something good will happen with this petition,” the bench said.Haryana govt told the court an inquiry had been initiated and said action had been taken against two persons who were responsible for the incident.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosCyclone Ditwah Approaches India: Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh Brace For Impact’Op Sindoor Was Just A Glimpse Of Future Theatre Commands’: Air Marshal Ashutosh DixitPM Modi Unveils World’s Tallest Bronze Statue Of Lord Ram In South GoaIndia Says US Trade Deal Is ‘Only Matter Of Time’ As Tariffs Reshape Bilateral Trade NegotiationsPM Modi Joins Over 1 Lakh Devotees In Mass Bhagwat Gita Recitation At Udupi EventIndia’s Updated Quake Map Warns Entire Himalayan Arc Faces Major Risk, Forcing Urgent Safety Reforms’They Are Ours, We’ll Prove It’: Pakistani Leader’s Absurd Claim On ‘Gujarat, Haryana, Rajasthan’Cyclone Ditwah Intensifies, Monsoon Fury Slams Sri Lanka With At Least 56 Dead And Dozens MissingViral Video: Stage Crashes During UP Wedding As BJP Leaders Gather To Greet Bride & GroomIndia-Russia Summit Dates Out As PM Modi, Putin Review S-400, Su-57 And Global Security Challenges123PhotostoriesAnkita Lokhande reveals she is returning to Laughter Chefs season 3; Krushna Abhishek says ‘We will celebrate Christmas with our Bhauji’4 simple exercises that can help relieve foot pain from diabetic neuropathyGirija Oak Godbole: Surprising facts about the ‘blue saree girl’ you didn’t knowFrom Pythons to Koalas: 5 sleepyhead animals that nap their way through most of the day2 effective drinks to control blood sugar naturally and how to make them at homeRanbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt to Randeep Hooda: Actors who disappeared with their rolesFrom Saraayah to Sipaara: A look at 2025 Bollywood baby names and their meanings5 countries with zero airports, yet travellers make it in for the experienceSobhita Dhulipala to Shanaya Kapoor: 5 breathtaking celeb looks of the dayHow to make iron and protein-rich Egg and Spinach Omelette for breakfast123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayNew Labour CodeWorld NewsGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingSaquon BarkleyLaMelo BallDonald TrumpDana WhiteAyesha CurryFuzzy ZoellerJammie BookerMarcus FolignoCalgary FlamesVanessa Bryant
NEW DELHI: Taking cognisance of a recent incident of three women sanitation workers of Maharshi Dayanand University in Haryana being compelled to send photographs of their sanitary pads to prove they were menstruating, Supreme Court on Friday decided to examine framing of guidelines to ensure that the right to health, dignity, bodily autonomy and privacy of women and girls is not violated when they are going through menstruation.A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and R Mahadevan expressed concern over ‘period-shaming’ incidents in educational institutions and working places, and said it showed the mentality of people.SC issued notice to the Centre and its ministries concerned on a petition filed by Supreme Court Bar Association which told the court there had been many instances of ‘period-shaming’ and pleaded the court to intervene.SCBA president Vikas Singh and other office bearers including Aparna Bhat and Pragya Baghel, told the court there was an urgent need for guidelines enforceable across India with an aim of fostering dignity and workplace inclusivity and upholding women’s right to health. They submitted that the Haryana incident was not a solitary one and many such cases have been reported across the country.“These incidents of women and girls being subjected to invasive and degrading checks in various institutional settings to check whether they are menstruating is in gross violation of their right to life, dignity, privacy and bodily integrity under Article 21 of the Constitution. Women workers, especially unorganised workers, have a right to decent working conditions which respect their biological differences and make room for adequate concessions such that they are not subject to humiliating checks when they are suffering from menstruation-related pain and discomfort,” SCBA said in its petition.SC after a brief hearing sought response from the Centre and appreciated SCBA for taking up this issue. It also said that if a woman worker on account of menstruation was unable to perform heavy tasks, another employee could have been assigned. “If someone is saying that because of this reason heavy work could not be done, it could have been accepted and some other persons could have deployed. We hope something good will happen with this petition,” the bench said.Haryana govt told the court an inquiry had been initiated and said action had been taken against two persons who were responsible for the incident.
