Panjab University allows menstrual leave for students; first north Indian institute to approve policy

NEW DELHI: The Panjab University, Chandigarh has granted menstrual leave to female students starting from the academic session 2024-25. All girl students of the university will be allowed a maximum of four days of menstrual leaves per semester. PU is now the first north Indian university to implement the policy.

“This is for the information of all the Chairpersons/Directors/Coordinators of Departments/lnstitutes/Centres/Regional Centres & Rural Centre, Kauni that the Hon'ble vice chancellor, Panjab University, chandigarh has implemented/granted Menstrual Leave in anticipation of the approval of Senate to the Girl Students of Panjab University, Chandigarh w.e.f" the odd semester of forthcoming Academic Session 2024-25 with the following terms and conditions,” said the university dean in an official circular.

In September last year, students’ union president Jatinder Singh had campaigned and pushed for a policy on menstrual leave and held meetings with the university administration. Several universities including the national law universities, Gauhati University, Tezpur University have introduced the menstrual leave policy while the Cochin University of Science and Technology ( CUSAT ) was the first one to come up with one.

According to the conditions put forth by the university, female students will be granted one day of leave per calendar month of teaching where teaching has taken place for at least 15 days. The leaves are limited to four days per semester and only during the teaching days.

No menstrual leave during exams

The university has barred exams from the policy. “In no case is such leave admissible during examinations (internal as well as external) whether theory or practical; whether sessional or mid semester or final/end semester,” it stated.

In order to apply for the leave, students will have to fill out a form available at the departmental office. It must be applied within five working days of the absence of a student, the university added. The chairperson or the director may allow menstrual leave which will be granted on the basis of self-certification by the student.

Also read Dharmashastra National Law University announces menstrual leaves for female students

The university dean asked the departments to add the number of lectures actually delivered on the day of leave to the total lectures attended by the student compiled at the end of each month. Moreover, the menstruation leave will be granted only for one day of a particular month and may not be split over two days or more.