Supreme Court declares menstrual hygiene a right to life, orders free pads and facilities in schools

Public health experts on Saturday hailed the Supreme Court’s recognition of menstrual hygiene as an integral part of the right to life, calling it a landmark step for women’s dignity and stigma-free education.

On Friday, the apex court ruled that access to menstrual hygiene is central to a girl child’s right to life, dignity, health, and education.

A Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan observed that “a period should end a sentence, not a girl’s education,” and held that the government has a positive obligation under Article 21 of the Constitution to protect menstrual health.

The court issued mandatory directions to all states and union territories to ensure free sanitary napkins, functional gender-segregated toilets, and menstrual health awareness in every school. It ordered that all government and private schools must have usable toilets with water connectivity, hand-washing facilities with soap, and infrastructure catering to children with disabilities.

The judgment noted that the lack of access to menstrual hygiene management products forces girls to use unhygienic alternatives or reuse absorbents, leading to adverse health consequences and increased absenteeism.

Rajeev Jayadevan, former president of IMA Cochin, said the measures would prevent infections, promote equality, and protect mental health.

Poonam Muttreja of the Population Foundation of India said recognising menstrual health as a fundamental right could reduce absenteeism and health risks, but stressed the need for safe disposal, sanitation, and stigma-free education.

The court directed states to provide Oxo-biodegradable sanitary napkins free of cost, preferably through vending machines in toilets, and to ensure covered waste bins with regular maintenance.

Dr Ishwar Gilada said time-bound implementation and safe disposal were crucial to making menstrual health a shared responsibility.