Menstrual Leave in India: Karnataka’s Policy and the Constitutional Debate on Equality

The discourse on menstrual leave in India has evolved from a social taboo into a serious legal and policy debate. Rooted at the intersection of labour rights, gender justice, and public health, menstrual leave raises a fundamental question: should the law recognise biological difference to ensure substantive equality, or would such recognition inadvertently reinforce workplace discrimination? Recent judicial pronouncements, state-level initiatives, and corporate practice have brought the issue into sharp focus, making it a timely subject for legal analysis, one that cuts across constitutional law, labour welfare, and the everyday realities of India’s workforce.