Karnataka govt defends menstrual leave policy in HC, prepares to bring legislation

The Karnataka government on Wednesday defended its recently notified menstrual leave policy before the high court, calling ita “well-considered, beneficial, and constitutionally compliant” decision, as it prepares to advance the policy by introducing a legislation in the assembly.

- HT Correspondents

The Karnataka Women's Well-being Leave Bill-2025 —which proposes one day of paid leave each month for women employees aged 18 to 52, with a maximum penalty of 5,000 for employer or official who intentionally denies the leave or discriminates against a person for menstruating — is expected to be tabled during the ongoing state assembly session in Belagavi, officials said.

The legislation is intended “to give legal strength to the order already issued by the government, which grants one menstrual leave per month to women government employees between the ages of I8 and 52 for a total of 12 days a year,” an official aware of the details said.