The Supreme Court of India has ruled that menstrual hygiene is part of the right to life under Article 21 and should be treated as a shared responsibility of men and women. The Court stressed that open discussion on menstruation in schools with both boys and girls is essential to end stigma and ensure dignity for girl students.
Today, On 30th January, The Supreme Court affirmed that the right to life under Article 21 includes the right to menstrual health, mandating free sanitary pads and separate toilets in schools. It said menstrual hygiene ensures reproductive health, equality, dignity, and fair opportunity for every girl.
Supreme Court judge Justice Surya Kant said that Indian courts don’t treat the law as just a strict rulebook. He shared that courts also protect constitutional values by giving the law modern and fair meanings. This allows the law to grow along with the changing society. According to him, this reflects the courts’ commitment to both justice and constitutional morality.