The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed the Delhi Police to conduct a survey on availability of functional sanitary pad vending machines in all police stations in the national capital, as well as washroom facilities for use exclusively by women police personnel. [2026 LiveLaw (Del) 724]

A division bench comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia directed the Commissioner of Delhi Police to complete the survey within six weeks.

The Court said that a report be filed by the Police detailing the appropriate steps which shall be taken to provide the said facilities in the police stations.

It also directed that an affidavit be filed about the steps which might be taken during the period for ensuring compliance of today's order.

The matter will now be heard on September 23.

The Bench issued notice on a PIL filed by NGO Justice for Rights Foundation through its Women Cell representative, Muskan Singh Bankura.

The petition alleges that there is a persistent lack of basic menstrual hygiene infrastructure and dedicated sanitation facilities for female police personnel deployed across police stations and units in Delhi.

The Court sought response of the Union of India through Ministry of Home Affairs, Delhi Police and the Delhi Government.

The plea relies on the RTI data from July and August 2025 from all 18 districts and units of the Delhi Police. It says that as per the said data, there is a near-total absence of functional sanitary pad vending machines, waste incinerators and earmarked budgetary allocations for menstrual hygiene across hundreds of police stations.

The petition argues that forcing several thousand female police personnel to discharge duty without access to basic menstrual hygiene and private, clean washrooms violates their fundamental rights to dignity, health, privacy, and humane working conditions under Articles 14, 15, and 21 of Constitution of India as well as Directive Principles.

The plea seeks directions to the Delhi Police and Union Ministry of Home Affairs to immediately install and maintain functional sanitary pad vending machines and incinerators across all police stations, disburse earmarked budgets, formulate binding Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and ensure exclusive, clean washroom facilities for female staff and visitors.

Title: JUSTICE FOR RIGHTS FOUNDATION AND ANR v. GNCTD & ORS

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Del) 724