Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Jan 30: The Supreme Court on Friday directed all states and Union Territories to ensure girl students in both private and government schools are provided bio-degradable menstrual sanitary pads free of cost, holding that the right to menstrual health forms part of the fundamental right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution.

A bench comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan also instructed states and UTs to ensure separate toilets for female and male students in all schools. The court further said that all schools, whether state-run or privately managed, must provide disabled-friendly toilets.

“The right to menstrual health is part of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution,” the bench observed, warning that private schools failing to provide these facilities would face de-recognition.

The court added that governments would also be held accountable if they fail to ensure proper toilet facilities and free sanitary pads for girls in schools.

The directions were issued while the apex court reserved its verdict on a PIL filed by Jaya Thakur on December 10, 2024, seeking pan-India implementation of the Union government’s ‘Menstrual Hygiene Policy for school-going girls’ for adolescent girl students of Classes 6 to 12 in government and government-aided schools.