India
Supreme Court presses states on menstrual hygiene orders
The Hindu·
The Supreme Court on October 13 faulted States and Union Territories for not replying to the Centre on its judgment treating menstrual hygiene as part of Article 21. Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan directed the Union to seek written replies from each state and UT. Non-responding chief secretaries could face contempt notices. Hearing was posted to December 14.
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What It Means For You
- State replies will decide whether chief secretaries face contempt notices at the next listing.
- The January judgment ties menstrual hygiene to Article 21 rights for schoolgirls.
- September 1 directions still cover gaps in gender-segregated school toilets with water.
What's Happening
- Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati told the Bench the Centre asked states for implementation details.
- The Bench said states and UTs have not responded so far.
- The Hindu and Hindustan Times both reported the October 13 hearing remarks.
What The Court Ordered
- On January 30 the court said Article 21 includes the right to menstrual health.
- The Centre earlier cited 30,458 gender-segregated school toilets built and 4,236 under construction.
- The Bench linked the order to girls dropping out of school in remote areas over hygiene gaps.
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