The Supreme Court of India on Friday issued notices to the Centre and other concerned authorities regarding a plea alleging that female sanitation workers at Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) in Haryana were asked to provide photographic proof of menstruation to justify their absence from work. The bench, comprising Justices BV Nagarathna and R Mahadevan, directed responses from the relevant authorities and posted the matter for further hearing on December 15, 2025.

During the hearing, Justice Nagarathna observed that the incident “reflects the mindset” of those responsible. She remarked, “In Karnataka, they are giving period leave. After reading this, I thought, will they ask proof for giving the leave?” The judge further highlighted that if the absence of workers affected heavy-duty tasks, alternative arrangements could have been made instead of subjecting women to such humiliating demands.

Bar Association Plea and Allegations

The plea was filed by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), with president and senior advocate Vikas Singhemphasizing that the matter constitutes a gross criminal case requiring urgent attention. The plea seeks:

• Directions for the Centre and Haryana government to conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident.
• Formulation of guidelines to safeguard the health, dignity, bodily autonomy, and privacy of women and girls during menstruation.

According to police reports, three individuals associated with MDU have been booked for sexual harassment following the alleged incident, which took place on October 26, 2025, just hours before the scheduled visit of Haryana Governor Ashim Kumar Ghosh to the campus.

Alleged Incident

Three female sanitation workers, employed through the Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam Limited on a contract basis, alleged that two supervisors forced them to continue cleaning despite being unwell due to menstruation. When the workers requested exemption, they were allegedly told to click pictures of their private parts as proof.

One worker, who has been with MDU for 11 years, stated, “We told them we could not work faster as we were unwell due to our periods, but they demanded we click photos of our private parts to prove it. When we refused, we were abused and threatened with dismissal.”

The women alleged that the supervisors claimed they were acting under instructions from Assistant Registrar Shyam Sunder, who has denied issuing any such order.

University Response and Police Action

In response to the allegations, MDU stated that it had suspended the two supervisors and ordered an internal probe.

The PGIMS police station has registered an FIR under several sections, including:

• Criminal intimidation
• Sexual harassment
• Intent to insult the modesty of a woman
• Assault or use of criminal force on a woman

Authorities also indicated that the accused may be booked under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, given the caste background of the complainants.

Significance and Wider Context

The case has drawn attention to the treatment of women in the workplace and the need for policy measures such as period leave without invasive verification. Justice Nagarathna’s remarks highlighted the discrepancy in mindsets between states like Karnataka, which provide menstrual leave, and the alleged actions at MDU.

The Supreme Court’s intervention underscores the importance of protecting dignity, bodily autonomy, and privacy for female workers, particularly in contexts where gender, employment status, and social hierarchies intersect. The upcoming hearing on December 15 will be closely watched for directives that could set a precedent on workplace rights and protections for menstruating women across India.