New Delhi, March 13: The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a PIL seeking a nationwide policy providing paid menstrual leave for women students and workers, observing no one would give them jobs in such a scenario and that such a provision would unintentionally reinforce gender stereotypes.
The top court, however, asked the Centre and competent authorities to consider the representation of the PIL petitioner and examine the possibility of framing a policy on menstrual leave after consulting all relevant stakeholders.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed that while the intent behind the petition might be welfare-oriented, the practical reality of the job market could lead to “counter-productive” outcomes for women.
“These pleas are made to create fear, to call women inferior, that menstruation is something bad happening to them… this is an affirmative right… but think about the employer who needs to give paid leave,” the bench observed. (PTI)
