A view of the High Court of Karnataka.
| Photo Credit: SREENIVASA MURTHY V
The High Court of Karnataka has stayed the State government’s November 20 notification mandating various establishments to grant one-day additional leave per month for women employees, aged between 18 and 52 years, during their menstrual cycle.
Justice Jyoti M. passed the interim order on Tuesday (December 9, 2025) on two separate petitions, filed by Bangalore Hotels’ Association and Avirata AFL Connectivity Systems Ltd, Bengaluru.
Petitioner’s argument
The primary ground on which the petitioners have challenged the validity of the notification was that there exists no provision in the concerned statutes to grant leave during menstrual cycle and hence the government had no power to introduce additional leave to various establishments, registered under various labour laws, through a notification.
It was also pointed out to the Court that the government had not held consultation with the petitioners or similarly situated establishments prior to introducing additional leave through the “Menstrual Leave Policy 2025”.
What the notification said
The menstrual leave was mandated to the establishments registered under the 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.
The notification states that women employees should utilise the menstrual leave of a month in the respective month itself and the leave of the previous month shall not to be allowed to extended (carry over) to the next month. Also, the notification states that women employees are not required to provide any medical certificate to avail this leave every month.
Published – December 09, 2025 11:41 am IST
