Delhi High Court – Court Orders Delhi Police to Improve Menstrual Hygiene Facilities Across Stations
Delhi High Court –The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Police to conduct a comprehensive review of police stations across the national capital and ensure that essential menstrual hygiene facilities are available for women officers within a fixed timeline.
High Court Issues Six-Week Deadline
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday instructed the Delhi Police to inspect every police station under its jurisdiction within six weeks and make sure that functional sanitary pad vending machines and separate washrooms for women personnel are available. The direction was issued by a Bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) highlighting the lack of basic menstrual hygiene facilities in police stations across Delhi.
PIL Raises Concerns Over Basic Facilities
The petition was filed by Muskan Singh Bankura, representing the Women Cell of the NGO Justice for Rights Foundation. The plea relied on responses received under the Right to Information (RTI) Act during July and August 2025 from all 18 districts and units of the Delhi Police. According to the petition, the information collected revealed that most police stations did not have operational sanitary pad vending machines, menstrual waste incinerators, or dedicated financial provisions to support menstrual hygiene requirements.
The PIL argued that such shortcomings directly affect women serving in the police force and reflect an urgent need for better workplace infrastructure.
Authorities Directed to Submit Compliance Reports
Apart from issuing directions to the Delhi Police Commissioner, the High Court also sought responses from the Union Government through the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Delhi Police, and the Delhi Government. The court has asked the authorities to submit their compliance reports before the next hearing, which has been scheduled for September 23.
The Bench indicated that the matter requires coordinated action from all concerned departments to ensure that women personnel have access to essential hygiene facilities while performing their official duties.
Petition Highlights Rights of Women Personnel
The public interest litigation stated that expecting thousands of women police personnel to work without adequate menstrual hygiene facilities could compromise their rights to dignity, privacy, health, and safe working conditions. The petition maintained that access to clean washrooms and menstrual hygiene products should be treated as a basic workplace necessity rather than an optional amenity.
It further emphasized that proper infrastructure would not only benefit women police officers but also improve facilities available for female visitors arriving at police stations for official purposes.
NGO Seeks Long-Term Policy Measures
In addition to the immediate installation of sanitary pad vending machines and menstrual waste incinerators, the NGO has requested the court to direct authorities to introduce permanent policy measures. These include earmarking dedicated budgets for menstrual hygiene management, preparing standard operating procedures for maintaining such facilities, and ensuring regular upkeep of clean and exclusive washrooms for women.
The petition also stressed that merely installing equipment would not be sufficient unless authorities establish a system for regular maintenance and uninterrupted availability of hygiene products. The case is expected to remain under judicial review as the court examines the responses submitted by the concerned authorities in the coming weeks.