Delhi HC orders survey, directs sanitary pad vending machines at Police Stations

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday, August 5, directed the Delhi Police to install sanitary pad vending machines and provide exclusive washrooms for women personnel at all police stations in the national capital.

A bench comprising Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia directed the Commissioner of Police to conduct a survey of all police stations within six weeks to assess the availability of exclusive washrooms and sanitary pad vending machines.

Based on the survey findings, the court said the police must take appropriate steps to ensure every police station is equipped with a sanitary pad vending machine and an exclusive washroom for women personnel.

The High Court listed the matter for further hearing on September 23 and directed the Delhi Police to file an affidavit detailing the action taken in compliance with its directions.

The order came while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the Justice for Rights Foundation, which sought access to basic menstrual hygiene and sanitation facilities for women police personnel at their workplaces.

The petitioner argued that such facilities are integral to the right to life with dignity, health, privacy and humane working conditions under Article 21 of the Constitution.

Referring to information obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the NGO claimed that despite thousands of women serving in the Delhi Police across hundreds of police stations, sanitary pad vending machines were available only at a limited number of locations. It also alleged that there was no dedicated policy or budgetary allocation for providing menstrual hygiene infrastructure to women personnel.

The petition contended that the absence of such basic facilities violated the constitutional rights of women police personnel under Articles 14 and 21 by compromising their dignity, health, privacy and safe working conditions.

The PIL sought directions to ensure the installation, maintenance and uninterrupted functioning of sanitary pad vending machines and sanitary incinerators across all Delhi Police establishments. It also sought the provision of clean, functional, private and adequately equipped washrooms exclusively for women police personnel.