Paid menstrual pain leave may cost women their careers, Supreme Court apprehends

The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a plea that asked for paid menstrual leave for women in all workplaces, saying that making such leave compulsory by law could end up harming women’s careers as they may be asked to sit at home, LiveLaw.in reported. The Court also said that while menstrual health concerns are important, forcing employers to give mandatory leave every month may discourage them from hiring women.

The judges asked the Centre to look at the petitioner’s request and consider whether a policy on menstrual leave could be created after consulting different stakeholders.

A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was hearing the case filed by Shailendra Mani Tripathi.