High Court Directs Delhi Govt To Ensure Uninterrupted Supply Of Sanitary Napkins In Govt Schools

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed the Delhi Government to ensure that there is uninterrupted supply of sanitary napkins to the girl students in government-aided schools under its Kishori Yojana.

A division bench comprising of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad disposed of a public interest litigation preferred by NGO Social Jurist through Advocates Ashok Agarwal and Utkarsh Kumar, raising concern in respect of halting the scheme.

It was stated that the Department of Education of the Delhi Government had adopted a scheme namely Kishori Yojana scheme whereby the girl students were to be provided with sanitary napkins. However, since January 2021, the distribution of the same was stopped, putting the girls students to great discomfort.

Government counsel SK Tripathi today apprised the Bench that a fresh tender in this regard had already been floated and that efforts are being made to finalize the same.

"In order to ensure that the supply of sanitary napkins is not discontinued, all Heads of Schools, Deputy Director of Education and other officers have been empowered and given sufficient funds to procure sanitary napkins from Government e marketplace for distribution," the Court noted.

In view of the fact that an interim arrangement has been made, the Bench was of the view that no further orders are called for.

The Court thus disposed of the plea by ordering thus: "The Government shall also in future ensure an uninterrupted supply of sanitary napkins to girls students under the Kishori Yojana Scheme."

Case Title: Social Jurist v. GNCTD

Citation: 2022 LiveLaw (Del) 613