Menstrual Health Part of Right to Life, Rules Supreme Court in Landmark Judgment
In a significant ruling strengthening the rights of girl students, the Supreme Court has held that the right to menstrual hygiene and access to menstrual hygiene products is an integral part of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution. The judgment was delivered by a Bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan while hearing a case concerning the nationwide implementation of the Centre’s Menstrual Hygiene Policy for school-going girls. The case examined conditions in government and government-aided schools and whether the absence of proper menstrual hygiene facilities infringes upon the fundamental rights of female students.
The Court made it clear that menstrual health falls within the ambit of the constitutional guarantee of life and dignity. It observed that access to safe, effective, and affordable menstrual hygiene management measures enables girl children to achieve the highest standards of sexual and reproductive health. Stressing the link between infrastructure and education, the Bench noted that the lack of gender-segregated toilets and menstrual absorbents often forces girls to miss classes or drop out of school, directly affecting their right to education and long-term opportunities. The judges stated that inaccessibility to menstrual hygiene facilities undermines dignity, which includes living without humiliation, exclusion, or avoidable suffering.
Emphasising the broader social impact, the Court said the ruling should serve as a tool for awareness and empowerment among students, teachers, and parents. It underlined that menstrual hygiene is not merely a health issue but a legal right, and encouraged stakeholders to demand adequate facilities in schools. The judgment highlighted that ensuring access to menstrual hygiene products and safe sanitation is essential to building an inclusive, supportive, and dignified learning environment for girls, aligning constitutional values with everyday realities in classrooms across the country.
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