Archive · 2 Dec 2025
Karnataka Hotels Challenge Mandatory Menstrual Leave
The Karnataka government recently told many businesses to give women employees one day of menstrual leave every month.
This means women can take 12 extra days off each year.
But the Bangalore Hotels Association (BHA) doesn't agree with this rule.
They think the government can't make this decision and that it's unfair because the government itself doesn't give this leave to its own women workers.
The BHA has asked the Karnataka High Court to cancel this rule.
They believe businesses should decide their own leave policies.
The case will be heard by a judge named Justice Jyoti Moolimani.
The government says this policy is important for women's health and rights.
Karnataka Labour Department issued a notification on November 12, 2025, mandating one day of menstrual leave per month for women employees across various sectors.
The Bangalore Hotels Association (BHA) has filed a petition in the Karnataka High Court challenging this directive.
BHA argues that the government lacks the legal authority to mandate menstrual leave and that leave policies should be decided by individual organizations.
The petition terms the order discriminatory, noting that the state government has not implemented similar provisions for its own women employees.
The government states that the policy is a fundamental part of women's rights and workplace welfare.
- Who
- Bangalore Hotels Association (BHA) and Karnataka Labour Department
- What
- Challenge to mandatory menstrual leave order
- When
- Notification issued on November 12, 2025; Petition filed in December 2025
- Where
- Karnataka, India
- Why
- BHA argues the order is discriminatory and beyond the government's legal authority
- Date of Notification
- November 12, 2025
- Leave Policy
- 1 day per month (12 days a year)
- Affected Laws
- Factories Act of 1948, Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act of 1961, Plantations Labour Act of 1951, Beedi and Cigar Workers Act of 1966, Motor Transport Workers Act of 1961
- Petitioner
- Bangalore Hotels Association (BHA)
- Court
- Karnataka High Court
- Representing Advocate
- B K Prashanth
- Bench Head
- Justice Jyoti Moolimani
- Government Statement
- Policy is a fundamental part of women's rights and workplace welfare
