Victim Claims "Humiliation and Threats of Dismissal"
Protests Erupt... Internal Investigation and Police Probe Begin
An incident occurred at Maharshi Dayanand University in Rohtak, Haryana, northern India, where a female employee was asked to submit a photo of a sanitary pad to prove she was menstruating.
According to multiple local media outlets, on October 26 (local time), a female employee responsible for cleaning work was late to work, prompting her male supervisors to question and challenge her reason for tardiness. The victim explained, "I was late because I was not feeling well due to menstruation," but two supervisors refused to accept her explanation and demanded that she remove her clothes to prove she was menstruating.
An incident occurred at Maharshi Dayanand University in Rohtak, Haryana, northern India, where a female employee was asked to submit a photo of a sanitary pad to prove she was menstruating (photo is for article illustration purposes and unrelated to the content). Pixabay
Subsequently, other female employees revealed that they had received similar demands from the same supervisors. Some employees reported being instructed to take photos of used sanitary pads in the restroom and submit them as evidence. In interviews with the local media outlet The Indian Express, the victims stated, "Employees who refused to take photos were subjected to humiliation and threats of dismissal."
Once the incident came to light, the university immediately launched an internal investigation. Krishnan Kant, the university registrar, emphasized, "If the investigation confirms any illegal acts, those responsible will be held accountable." On campus, female employees and students staged collective protests and submitted evidence to the State Women's Commission, continuing their demonstrations. The police also filed a First Information Report (FIR) against the two supervisors and began an investigation.
In an official statement, the university declared, "Acts that threaten the safety of employees will not be tolerated under any circumstances," adding, "The dignity and safety of women are our top priorities, and we will take strict action against any inappropriate behavior."
This incident has once again highlighted the social taboos and discrimination surrounding menstruation in India. In July this year, a similar case occurred at a school near Mumbai, Maharashtra, where the principal and staff forced female students to undergo nude inspections to check if they were menstruating. At that time, parents staged protests, demanding strict punishment.
Historically, menstruation has been considered "unclean" in India, leading to the exclusion of women from social and religious events. There have also been previous reports of forced inspections of female dormitory students in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. This latest incident has once again brought attention to these customs and the issue of structural discrimination.
Experts pointed out, "Forcing sexual or physical humiliation in the workplace violates international human rights standards," and stressed, "Strong responses and preventive measures are needed at both the university and government levels."
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