Introduction:
The Delhi High Court, while hearing Justice for Rights Foundation and Another v. Government of NCT of Delhi and Others [2026 LiveLaw (Del) 724], took cognizance of the alleged lack of menstrual hygiene infrastructure and sanitation facilities for women police personnel serving across police stations in the national capital. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia issued important interim directions aimed at assessing the availability of sanitary facilities in police establishments and ensuring that women personnel are provided with dignified working conditions.
The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed by Justice for Rights Foundation, through its Women Cell representative Muskan Singh Bankura, highlighting the alleged absence of functional sanitary pad vending machines, waste disposal mechanisms, and exclusive washroom facilities for women police officers. The petition relied upon information obtained under the Right to Information Act, which, according to the petitioner, revealed significant deficiencies in menstrual hygiene infrastructure across several police stations and units of the Delhi Police.
Considering the issues raised, the High Court sought responses from the Union of India through the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Delhi Police, and the Government of NCT of Delhi. The Court also issued interim directions requiring the authorities to conduct a comprehensive survey and place the factual position before it.
Arguments of the Parties:
The petitioner submitted that women police personnel are required to perform demanding duties for long hours, often without access to basic menstrual hygiene facilities. Relying on RTI responses obtained from all eighteen districts and units of the Delhi Police during July and August 2025, it was argued that a large number of police stations lacked functional sanitary pad vending machines, waste incinerators, and dedicated budgetary allocations for menstrual hygiene. The petitioner contended that the absence of such facilities adversely affects the health, dignity, privacy, and overall well-being of women police personnel.
The PIL further argued that compelling female police officers to work without clean and exclusive washroom facilities or access to menstrual hygiene products amounts to a violation of their fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 15, and 21 of the Constitution. The petitioner sought comprehensive directions requiring the authorities to install and maintain sanitary pad vending machines and incinerators in all police stations, formulate binding Standard Operating Procedures for menstrual hygiene management, allocate adequate funds, and ensure the availability of hygienic washrooms exclusively for women police personnel and women visitors.
At this stage, the Court issued notice to the respondents, including the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the Delhi Police, and the Government of NCT of Delhi, calling upon them to place their responses on record. The merits of the petition are yet to be finally adjudicated.
Court’s Judgment:
Recognising the importance of the issues raised in the PIL, the Delhi High Court issued interim directions to ascertain the existing state of menstrual hygiene infrastructure across police stations in the national capital. The Court directed the Commissioner of Delhi Police to conduct a comprehensive survey regarding the availability of functional sanitary pad vending machines in every police station. The survey was also directed to examine whether separate and usable washroom facilities exclusively meant for women police personnel were available in those establishments.
The Bench ordered that the survey be completed within six weeks and that a detailed report be filed before the Court. The report is required to indicate not only the existing infrastructure but also the corrective measures proposed by the Delhi Police to ensure adequate menstrual hygiene facilities wherever deficiencies are found.
The Court further directed that an affidavit be filed explaining the immediate steps proposed to ensure compliance with its directions. By requiring both a factual survey and an action plan, the Court sought to ensure that the issue is addressed through concrete administrative measures rather than remaining confined to policy discussions.
The Bench considered it appropriate to seek responses from all concerned governmental authorities, including the Union of India through the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Delhi Police, and the Government of NCT of Delhi, before taking a final view on the wider reliefs sought in the PIL. These include installation of sanitary pad vending machines, provision of waste incinerators, earmarked budgetary allocations, formulation of standard operating procedures, and creation of exclusive hygienic washroom facilities for women police personnel.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on September 23, by which time the Court expects the authorities to place the survey findings and compliance reports on record. The directions issued at this stage underscore the judiciary’s recognition that safe and hygienic workplace conditions form an essential component of the dignity and welfare of women employees in public service.
Although the Court has not yet expressed any final opinion on the merits of the PIL, the interim order highlights the growing judicial focus on workplace infrastructure for women in uniformed services. By directing a systematic assessment of existing facilities and requiring the authorities to formulate corrective measures, the High Court has initiated an important process aimed at ensuring that women police personnel are provided with basic amenities necessary for maintaining their health, dignity, privacy, and efficiency while discharging their public duties.