Delhi HC issues notice on PIL for menstrual hygiene facilities in police stations
Synopsis
RTI replies from all 18 Delhi Police districts exposed a near-total absence of menstrual hygiene infrastructure for women personnel — and now the Delhi High Court has stepped in, ordering a force-wide survey within six weeks. The case frames access to sanitary facilities as a constitutional right under Article 21, not a welfare amenity.
Key Takeaways
The Delhi High Court on 5 August admitted a PIL seeking menstrual hygiene infrastructure across all Delhi Police stations.
A bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia issued notice and directed a force-wide survey within six weeks .
RTI replies from all 18 Delhi Police districts revealed vending machines present in only a 'minuscule fraction' of stations.
No budgetary allocation, policy, or standing order governing menstrual hygiene for women personnel was found to exist.
The PIL, filed by Justice for Rights Foundation , invokes Articles 14, 15, and 21 of the Constitution.
Next hearing is scheduled for 23 September .
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday, 5 August agreed to examine a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the installation and upkeep of sanitary pad vending machines and menstrual hygiene infrastructure across all police stations in the national capital. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia issued notice to respondents including Delhi Police and directed the Commissioner of Police to conduct a comprehensive survey of all police stations in Delhi.
What the Court Has Directed
The Commissioner of Police has been given six weeks to complete the survey and file a detailed status report indicating where functional sanitary pad vending machines exist and what steps are proposed to address gaps. The matter has been listed for the next hearing on 23 September.
Who Filed the PIL and Against Whom
The petition was filed by NGO Justice for Rights Foundation and is directed against the Union of India through the Ministry of Home Affairs, Delhi Police through the Commissioner of Police, the Delhi government, and the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development. Advocates Karnika Bahuguna, Pooja Kushwaha, and Vipasha Jain appeared on behalf of the petitioner.
What RTI Responses Revealed
RTI applications filed by the petitioner in July 2025 and replies received from all 18 Delhi Police districts and units revealed that sanitary pad vending machines were available in only a 'minuscule fraction' of police stations, despite thousands of women personnel serving across the force. The replies also disclosed the absence of any budgetary allocation, policy, circular, standing order, or institutional mechanism governing menstrual hygiene infrastructure for women police personnel.
The Constitutional Argument
The petition invokes Articles 14, 15, and 21 of the Constitution, arguing that access to basic menstrual hygiene and sanitation facilities is an inseparable facet of the right to live with dignity, health, privacy, and humane working conditions. It further contends that female police personnel are frequently required to perform prolonged operational and law-and-order duties without being able to leave their posting, making such facilities an essential workplace necessity.
Who Else Is Affected
The petition also highlights that the absence of such facilities affects women who visit police stations as complainants, victims, witnesses, or visitors who may be required to remain for official proceedings. The petitioner has sought directions for installation of sanitary pad vending machines and incinerators at all police stations, along with a uniform policy covering gender-responsive washroom facilities, adequate budgetary allocation, standard operating procedures, and periodic compliance audits.
The case underscores a broader gap in workplace sanitation standards for women in uniformed services — one that courts across India have increasingly been called upon to address.
Point of View
Not a single institutional mechanism — no budget line, no circular, no standing order — exists for menstrual hygiene. That is not an oversight; it is a structural failure of workplace policy. Courts stepping in to mandate surveys is a necessary corrective, but the deeper question is why the Delhi Police and the Ministry of Home Affairs required judicial prodding to address a basic occupational health need. If the six-week survey confirms what the RTI replies already suggest, the accountability question will fall squarely on the Commissioner of Police and the ministries named as respondents.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PIL filed in the Delhi High Court about menstrual hygiene in police stations?
The PIL, filed by NGO Justice for Rights Foundation, seeks court directions to install and maintain sanitary pad vending machines, sanitary waste incinerators, and exclusive hygienic washrooms for female police personnel across all Delhi Police stations. It argues that access to menstrual hygiene facilities is a fundamental right under Articles 14, 15, and 21 of the Constitution.
What did the Delhi High Court direct in this case?
The Delhi High Court directed the Commissioner of Police to conduct a survey of all police stations in Delhi within six weeks to ascertain the availability of functional sanitary pad vending machines and file a detailed status report. The next hearing is on 23 September.
What did RTI applications reveal about menstrual hygiene facilities in Delhi Police stations?
RTI replies from all 18 Delhi Police districts and units, filed in July 2025, revealed that sanitary pad vending machines were present in only a 'minuscule fraction' of stations. The replies also disclosed the complete absence of any budget allocation, policy, or institutional mechanism for menstrual hygiene infrastructure.
Who are the respondents in the Delhi HC PIL on police station menstrual hygiene?
The respondents are the Union of India through the Ministry of Home Affairs, Delhi Police through the Commissioner of Police, the Delhi government, and the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development.
Why does the PIL argue menstrual hygiene is a constitutional right?
The petition contends that menstruation is an inevitable biological process and that access to adequate hygiene facilities is an inseparable component of the right to life and dignity under Article 21. It also invokes Articles 14 and 15, arguing that denial of such facilities to women police personnel constitutes a violation of equality and non-discrimination guarantees.
