Gujarat HC proposes ban on exclusion of menstruating women from private, public places

By LE Desk

Ahmedabad, March 10: The Gujarat High Court has proposed to prohibit the social exclusion of women on the basis of their menstrual status at all public, private and religious places.

The high court has sought the state and the central governments’ views and also asked them to sensitise people against perpetuating biases against women, India Today reported.

A division bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Ilesh Vora said, “We are conscious of the fact that we are dealing with a very delicate issue and therefore, it is necessary for this court to hear all the respondents and other stakeholders.”

“The aforesaid should not be construed as if this court has made up its mind one way or the other. A healthy and meaningful debate or deliberation is necessary in the present litigation,” the high court said.

The high court passed the order while hearing a plea filed by activist Nirjhari Sinha, who had filed a petition after an incident at a college in Bhuj city wherein more than 60 students were made to remove their undergarments to prove they weren’t menstruating. The incident was reported on February 14 last year.

Sixty-eight undergraduate girls in a hostel run by Shree Sahajanand Girls Institute (SSGI) were allegedly forced to strip and paraded in the college to prove that they were not menstruating.

The incident allegedly took place after the hostel rector complained to the principal that some of the girls had been violating their religious norms, specifically those who were menstruating.

Counsel Megha Jani, appearing on behalf of Nirjhari Sinha, said that although menstruation is a physiological phenomenon, a natural part of the reproductive cycle experienced by every woman, yet it has always been associated with taboos and myths, which exclude women from their daily course of life.

The counsel said the myths are based on an assumption that a woman is impure and would pollute the surroundings during her menstruation.

“She is, therefore, kept in isolation, excluded from the daily activities, not allowed to touch water, not allowed to cook, not allowed to touch vessels, remain in a separate earmarked place and not visit temple in any religious ceremony or rituals,” the counsel said.

Further hearing in the matter has been posted on March 30.

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/myths-based-assumption-gujarat-hc-proposes-ban-exclusion-women-periods-1777553-2021-03-10