Agartala, 11th May 2026: The Tripura Human Rights Commission has asked the State Government to provide a detailed response on its position regarding menstrual leave and related welfare provisions for women employees and students.
The directive, issued by Commission Chairperson Justice Arindam Lodh, comes after the body took suo motu cognizance of the issue, highlighting its importance in the context of workplace rights and gender-sensitive policies.
The Commission has sought clarification on whether the State Government has initiated, considered, or is currently evaluating any policy, proposal, or consultation on menstrual leave, menstrual health support, attendance relaxation, or workplace accommodations across government offices, private establishments, and educational institutions.
It also referred to the Supreme Court’s observations noting that menstrual leave is a policy matter best decided by both Union and State Governments after stakeholder consultation, with States free to frame their own policies.
In its note, the Commission observed that India currently has no central law mandating menstrual leave. However, it pointed out that some States have introduced related measures, including Bihar’s provision of menstrual leave for women government employees, Kerala’s attendance relaxation for female students, and Karnataka’s 2025 government order granting one day of paid menstrual leave per month for women in both public and private sectors.
The panel also referenced earlier legislative efforts such as the Menstruation Benefits Bill, 2017 and the Right of Women to Menstrual Leave and Free Access to Menstrual Health Products Bill, 2022, which remain pending.
Calling menstrual health and workplace dignity integral to fundamental rights, the Commission stressed the need for serious consideration by the State Government in line with constitutional guarantees of equality and humane working conditions.
The Commission has formally registered the matter and directed the Chief Secretary of Tripura, Jitendra Kumar Sinha, to submit a comprehensive report within 30 days through the relevant departments. The case is scheduled for further hearing on June 10, 2026.
