The next hearing in this case will be in January.

New Delhi:

The Supreme Court

has issued a notice to the Central Government

on a plea seeking direction to provide free sanitary pads to girls studying in classes 6 to 12 in schools across the country .

The petitioner said that adolescent girls in the age group of 11 to 18 years coming from poor background are facing severe hardship.

In the petition, the Government of India and the states have been demanded to provide sanitary pads free of cost to the girls studying from class 6 to 12.

Along with this, there has also been a demand for instructions to provide separate toilets for girls in all government-aided and residential schools. 

Petitioner Madhya Pradesh Congress leader Jaya Thakur has said that girls in the age group of 11 to 16 years coming from poor background are often unable to maintain hygiene.

The petition states that the steps being taken by the government are not able to cover all the girls across the country.

The petition further prays the court to direct the Center and the states to provide awareness programs in three phases.

CJI DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha said that the issue of cleanliness of young girl students has been raised in the petition.

Solicitor General assists the court in the matter.

Apart from the Center, the Supreme Court has also issued notices to the states and union territories.

The next hearing will be in January.

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