'Nobody will hire them': Supreme Court says menstrual leave would backfire, hurt women's careers

Responding to a plea seeking laws to provide menstrual leave, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant observed that such a law could create a psychological perception among working women that they are inferior to men.

“Creating awareness and sensitisation is different… but the moment you bring in a law mandating menstrual leave, nobody will hire them,” CJI Kant said, adding, “You don’t know the mindset of employers. They will not hire women if we make such a law.”

The plea was filed by advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi, seeking an order to allow women to avail menstrual leave.

When senior advocate MR Shamshad cited the 2013 Kerala government’s initiative granting menstrual leave to women students in state-run universities and similar voluntary measures by some private companies, the CJI described them as voluntary actions.

He added that imposing such a law could lead employers to avoid hiring women professionals in any sector, potentially harming their careers.