Archive · 6 Aug 2026
Delhi HC directs sanitary pad vending machines and women's washrooms
The Delhi High Court is a big court that looks after laws in Delhi, India.
It told the Delhi Police to take care of the women who work as police officers.
The court said every police station should have a machine that gives out sanitary pads.
It also said police stations need private washrooms that are only for women police officers.
The police chief must check all police stations within six weeks to see what is missing.
After the check, the police must take steps to fix any problems.
A group called the Justice for Rights Foundation asked the court to help.
They said women police officers have the right to be healthy, safe, and treated with dignity at work.
The court will meet again on September 23 to see what has been done.
The Delhi High Court directed the Commissioner of Police to survey all police stations in Delhi within six weeks on the availability of exclusive washrooms and sanitary pads.
Based on the survey, each police station must be provided with a sanitary pad vending machine and an exclusive washroom for women personnel.
The order came on a PIL filed by NGO Justice for Rights Foundation, represented by its Women Cell representative Muskan Singh Bankura.
RTI-based data showed vending machines existed in only a few police stations with no budgetary allocation for menstrual hygiene facilities.
The court issued notice to the Centre, Delhi government and Delhi Police, sought an affidavit on steps taken, and listed the next hearing for September 23.
- Who
- A Division Bench of the Delhi High Court comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia; the Commissioner of Delhi Police; and NGO Justice for Rights Foundation, which filed the PIL through its Women Cell representative Muskan Singh Bankura.
- What
- Directed that all Delhi police stations be provided with sanitary pad vending machines and exclusive washrooms for women personnel, following a survey of all stations within six weeks.
- When
- Order passed on Wednesday, August 5, 2026; the survey must be completed within six weeks and the next hearing is on September 23.
- Where
- New Delhi, India.
- Why
- To protect women police personnel's right to menstrual hygiene, dignity, health, privacy and humane working conditions under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution; one report also cited Article 15.
- Court
- Delhi High Court
- Bench
- Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia
- Direction
- Sanitary pad vending machines and exclusive washrooms for women personnel at all police stations
- Survey deadline
- Within six weeks
- Next hearing
- September 23
- Petitioner
- Justice for Rights Foundation (NGO), via Women Cell representative Muskan Singh Bankura
- Legal provisions cited
- Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution (one report also cited Article 15)
- Facilities cited as examples
- Mumbai Police's Smart Maitrin project, CRPF and Leh District Police facilities
