Soon, sanitary pad vending machines in SC

NEW DELHI: ORDER ISSUED AFTER AN ADVOCATE POINTED OUT HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS FOR WOMEN IN THE COURT TO FIND NAPKINS DURING EMERGENCIES

The Supreme

Court will put sanitary napkin vending machines, a step that will help lawyers and litigants overcome uncomfortable situations as chemists and shops selling pads are miles away from the sprawling complex.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra issued a directive to the Supreme Court registry on Tuesday to install three machines after advocate Nandini Gore pointed out how difficult it is for women visiting and working in the court to get disposable sanitary napkins when the need arises.

The court’s medical clinics that provide first-aid to lawyers and visitors don’t keep pads.

The court released ₹10 lakh for three machines and an equal number of incinerators to safely dispose of used and soiled napkins.

Gore, secretary of the Supreme Court AdvocatesOn-Record Association (SCAORA), said she would request the registry to install a machine in the chamber block outside the court complex where lawyers have their offices.

The other two, she said, should ideally be placed in washrooms.

The funds came from ₹ 1.4 crore the court received from two Gurgaon-based doctors, indicted for sheltering a politician accused of murder.

The court had imposed the fine after the CBI established the Gurgaon hospital helped former legislator of the Indian National Lok Dal evade arrest.

Besides the vending machines, Chief Justice Misra released ₹80 lakh for the Supreme Court Bar Association. The amount will go into a fixed deposit and the interest disbursed for medical assistance to lawyers.

The SCAORA will also receive ₹50 lakh, while ₹5 lakh will be given to the widow of the man allegedly killed by the former legislator.