Supreme Court: India top court rejects menstrual leave petition saying 'no-one will hire women'

The subject has polarised India for long, though some states and private companies offer menstrual leaves.

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The two-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant said mandatory leave would make young women think they were "not at par" with their male colleagues and would be "harmful for their growth".

The subject of menstrual leave has long polarised Indian society - while many agree with the justices' views, others argue that a day or two off can help women deal with painful periods.

Some states and a number of large private companies have introduced menstrual leaves for employees over the years.

The top court's comments came while hearing a petition filed by lawyer Shailendra Mani Tripathi, seeking a national menstrual leave policy, legal website LiveLaw reported.