The Delhi High Court has issued a directive to the Commissioner of Delhi Police to conduct a comprehensive survey of all police stations in the national capital. The focus of this survey is to identify stations lacking adequate women’s washrooms and sanitary pad vending machines, a crucial step towards improving workplace conditions for female police personnel.
In a decision rendered by a Division Bench consisting of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia, the court emphasized the necessity of conducting this survey within six weeks. Following the survey, appropriate actions are mandated to ensure each police station is equipped with sanitary pad vending machines and exclusive washroom facilities for women personnel.
The directive further required that by the subsequent court date, Delhi Police, identified as respondent No 2, must submit an affidavit detailing the measures taken to comply with this order.
Public Interest Litigation
This mandate arose while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by the NGO Justice for Rights Foundation, represented by Muskan Singh Bankura from its Women Cell. The petition highlighted alarming data obtained through the Right to Information Act (RTI Act), indicating a significant lack of functional sanitary pad vending machines, menstrual waste incinerators, and specific budgetary allocations for menstrual hygiene in police stations.
The petition argued that the absence of basic menstrual hygiene facilities and private washrooms for thousands of female police officers is a violation of their fundamental rights. These rights, enshrined in Articles 14, 15, and 21 of the Indian Constitution, include the right to dignity, health, privacy, and humane working conditions.
Comparative Initiatives
In its plea, the petition cited successful initiatives such as the Mumbai Police’s “Smart Maitrin” project and efforts made by the CRPF and Leh District Police to provide similar facilities. These examples were used to underscore the feasibility and necessity of implementing such measures within Delhi’s police stations.
Representing the petitioner were Advocates Karnika Bahuguna, Pooja Kushwaha, and Vipasha Jain, who emphasized the urgent need for reform in this area.
