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ARTICLE · 28 JULY 2026

Menstrual Leave Update By Karnataka HC

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The Karnataka High Court has directed strict implementation of the state's menstrual leave policy, which mandates one day of paid leave per month for women employees across various sectors. While the court has ordered the government to operationalize the policy through administrative guidelines, the matter remains legally contested with pending writ petitions challenging the validity of the menstrual leave order before the Principal Bench.

IndiaEmployment and HR
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The State of Karnataka, by way of a Government Order dated November 12, 2025, had mandated the Statewide provision of one day of paid menstrual leave per month (restricted to 12 days per year) to all permanent, contract, and outsourced women employees aged between 18 and 52 years employed in establishments registered under the erstwhile Factories Act, 1948, the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1961, the Plantation Labour Act, 1951, the Beedi and Cigar Workers (Conditions of Employment) Act, 1966, and the Motor Transport Workers Act, 1961.

In a recent development, on April 15, 2026, the Karnataka HC (Dharwad Bench), in its judgement in the case of Smt. Chandravva Hanamant Gokavi v. State of Karnataka & Ors.1 directed the strict implementation of the existing menstrual leave policy and instructed the State to ensure its effective operationalisation through guidelines, circulars, and administrative instructions across all sectors. However, this matter continues to

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