Free Sanitary Pads in Schools, Supreme Court Notice to Union, States and UTs Government

The Supreme Court on Monday sought responses from the Centre, states and Union territories (UTs) on a PIL seeking directions to provide free sanitary pads to girls studying in classes VI to XII in government schools across the country.

A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha, while hearing a petition by Jaya Thakur, a doctor and social activist from Madhya Pradesh and issued notices to the central and state governments and sought their response.

The top court also sought assistance of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta in the matter, saying the petitioner has raised the important issue of sanitation and hygiene of girl students in government and government-aided schools.

The petitioner also stated that apart from providing sanitary pads to the girls in the government and government-aided schools, there should also be separate toilets.

The petition further said that young girls are not able to maintain hygiene. He said that all the steps being taken by the government are not capable of doing this.