The High Court of Karnataka on April 15 directed the State government to ‘strictly and faithfully’ implement the menstrual leave (ML) policy mandating registered establishments to grant one-day leave per month to women employees, aged between 18 and 52 years, during their menstrual cycle till the proposed law on ML is enacted.
Upon enactment of the proposed law — Karnataka Menstrual Leave and Hygiene Bill, 2025, the State shall, without any undue delay frame appropriate rules to give full and meaningful effect of the mandate, the court said.
Justice M. Nagaprasanna passed the order on a petition filed by 41-year-old Chandravva Hanumant Gokavi, who works in a hotel in Mudalgi of Gokak taluk in Belagavi district.
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In the interregnum, it shall be incumbent upon the State to ensure effective operationalisation of the policy through the issuance of suitable guidelines, circulars, and administrative instructions, as may be necessary to secure its uniform, consistent and rigourous implementation across all sectors.
