No girl should leave school for want of a sanitary pad.
How a petition by Dr. Jaya Thakur became one of the Supreme Court's most significant rulings on girls' health, dignity and education.
W.P.(C) No. 1000 of 2022
2026 INSC 97
Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan
Menstrual health was recognised as part of the right to life with dignity (Article 21) and the right to education (Article 21A).
The Court directed governments and schools, whether government, aided or private, to provide free sanitary napkins, functional separate toilets for girls, safe disposal arrangements and menstrual health education, and it kept the case open to monitor compliance.
Why the petition was filed
Filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, the petition asked that girls in Classes 6 to 12 receive free sanitary pads and have separate toilets at school, and that menstrual health be taught.
It pointed to girls missing school every month, and many leaving altogether, because schools lacked the most basic facilities. At a November 2024 hearing, her counsel described a recent visit to Damoh district, Madhya Pradesh, where government middle schools had no peons or housekeeping and no provision for sanitary pads.
The directions
- Free sanitary napkins for girl students
- Functional, separate toilets for girls in every school
- Safe and hygienic disposal arrangements
- Menstrual health education in schools
- Applies to government-run and privately managed schools
- Continuing supervision of compliance by the Court
Four years in the Supreme Court
- 28 November 2022
Notice issued
Calling it an "important issue", a bench led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud issued notice to the Union, all States and Union Territories and sought the Solicitor General's assistance.
- April 2023
A national model ordered
The Court asked the Centre to prepare a national model for menstrual hygiene management in schools.
- July 2023
States warned
With only a few States having responded, the Court warned of coercive action if status reports were not filed.
- July – November 2024
National policy
In July 2024 the Centre said a national policy was at an advanced stage. In November 2024 it told the Court that a Menstrual Hygiene Policy for School-Going Girls had been approved.
- 30 January 2026
Judgment: 2026 INSC 97
Menstrual health is held to be part of the rights to life and education, with binding directions for all schools.
- May 2026
Deadline of 15 August
Told that only Chandigarh had filed a compliance report, the Court set a deadline for States and Union Territories to implement its directions.
- 1 September 2026
Compostable pads and surprise inspections: 2026 INSC 994
Criticising poor implementation, the Court required compostable (not oxo-biodegradable) pads, encouraged menstrual cups, and ordered unannounced school inspections.
Sources: LiveLaw (2022) Verdictum (2023) The Tribune (Jul 2024) NewsMill (Nov 2024) Business Today (Nov 2024) SC Observer (2026) NewsGram (May 2026) Bar & Bench (Sep 2026) LawBeat (Sep 2026) Verdictum (Sep 2026)
The judgment, explained
Law students and exam-preparation channels have produced explainers on the case. These are by independent channels.
Videos are by independent channels and play from YouTube.
What others have written
- The Wire1 February 2026
- Health and Human Rights Journal12 February 2026
- International Bar Association7 April 2026
- LiveLaw17 March 2026