The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday directed the State government to file an interim report with regard to the formation of the committee and progress in framing the rules with regard to a comprehensive paid menstrual leave policy for women employees.A Division Bench of Justices C.V. Karthikeyan and R. Sakthivel took note of the submissions of the State and said the government was actively considering the formation of the committee and to frame rules in accordance with the labour code introduced by the Central government particularly since it was not only government departments but also the private entities which will have to be sensitised with the necessity to grant menstrual leave.The court was hearing the petition filed by M. Narmatha of Madurai who sought a direction to the government to frame a comprehensive paid menstrual leave policy for women employees in the government departments, public sector undertakings, government educational institutions, allied establishments and special guidelines for private institutions considering the welfare of women.The petitioner said the absence of a menstrual leave policy results in indirect discrimination against women employees, thereby violating Article 14 of the Constitution, as women alone bear the burden of a recurring biological condition and are compelled either to suffer wage loss or to work through debilitating pain, unlike their male counterparts.She said the existing leave framework, namely casual leave and sick leave was wholly inadequate to address a recurring, monthly biological condition such as dysmenorrhea, forcing women employees to exhaust the leave entitlements or suffer loss of wages, thereby affecting their service conditions unfairly.The continued policy vacuum adversely affects lakhs of working women. Menstrual leave is not a concession or privilege but a public health and labour welfare measure recognised globally, she said.The court posted the matter for hearing to August 24. Published - July 28, 2026 08:12 pm IST