Construct women's washrooms, install sanitary pad vending machines in police stations: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday ordered the Commissioner of Delhi Police to conduct a survey of all police stations in the national capital and construct women's washrooms with sanitary pad vending machines for women police personnel in stations lacking such facilities.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia said that the survey must be conducted in six weeks and based on its findings, steps must be taken to provide "each police station with the facility of sanitary pad vending machines and washrooms for exclusive use of women personnel". 

"By the next date of listing, an affidavit shall be filed by respondent No 2 (Delhi Police) detailing the steps which might be taken during this period to ensure compliance of this order," the Court added.

The Bench passed the order while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by NGO Justice for Rights Foundation through its Women Cell representative Muskan Singh Bankura.

According to the petition, data obtained through Right to Information Act (RTI Act) revealed an almost complete absence of functional sanitary pad vending machines, menstrual waste incinerators and dedicated budgetary allocations for menstrual hygiene at police stations.

The petition contended that requiring thousands of women police personnel to perform their duties without access to basic menstrual hygiene facilities and private, clean washrooms infringes their fundamental rights to dignity, health, privacy and humane working conditions under Articles 14, 15 and 21 of the Constitution.

It also referred to initiatives such as Mumbai Police’s “Smart Maitrin” project and facilities provided to CRPF personnel and Leh District Police.

Advocates Karnika Bahuguna, Pooja kushwaha and Vipasha jain appeared for the petitioner.