Delhi High Court directs State Govt to ensure uninterrupted supply of sanitary napkin to Govt Schools

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed the Delhi government to ensure an uninterrupted supply of sanitary napkins to the students of the government school/government-aided schools.

A division bench of Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) moved by NGO Social Jurist against the non-distribution of sanitary napkins to girls under the Kishori Yojana Scheme.

The plea stated that the Delhi Government's Directorate of Education (DoE) had adopted the Kishori Yojana Scheme, under which girl students were to be provided with Sanitary Napkins to maintain their hygiene and general health, as well as to remove obstacles in their studies.

It further stated that since January 2021, girl students in DoE-run schools have been without sanitary napkins, and restoring this facility is essential for their hygiene and general health, as their education and attendance suffered.

The plea also stated that the action of not providing sanitary napkins is irrational, unreasonable, arbitrary, and in violation of a girl's Fundamental Right to Education as guaranteed by the provisions of the Right of the Child to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, and the Delhi School Education Act, 1973.

While dismissing the PIL, the Court directed the Delhi government to immediately frame a policy to provide sanitary napkins to girl students under the Kishori Yojana Scheme on a continuous and uninterrupted basis, rather than relying on the tender system of inviting tenders for this purpose.

Case Title: Social Jurist v. GNCTD