Female staff ‘are ordered to photograph their sanitary pads to prove they were on their period after complaining they were feeling tired at Indian university’
Female university staff were allegedly ordered to photograph their sanitary pads to prove they were on their period after complaining of being tired on campus.
The incident took place at Maharshi Dayanand University in Rohtak, India, after a female cleaner showed up late to work on October 26.
According to local reports, her male supervisors quizzed her on why she was late, and she went on to explain that she was feeling unwell due to her period.
The two supervisors then allegedly accused her of lying and are said to have asked the woman to remove her clothes to prove she was menstruating.
Following the incident, other female workers came forward to accuse the two male supervisors of directing another woman in a similar situation of taking them to the bathroom to take photos of their used sanitary towels.
‘They said you click photos of your private parts as proof so that the menstrual cycle can be confirmed,’ the women were quoted as saying by The Indian Express.
‘When two of us refused to follow the instructions, we were abused and threatened with dismissal.’
The University Registrar, Krishnan Kant, said an ‘internal inquiry has been initiated and those found guilty will not be spared’, according to the newspaper.
Female university staff were allegedly ordered to photograph their sanitary pads to prove they were on their period after complaining of being tired on campus (file photo)
The incident took place at Maharshi Dayanand University in Rohtak, India , after a female cleaner showed up late to work on October 26
As news of the shocking incident spread through the university campus after the supervisors received the photos, female staff and students staged a protest.
They also shared photo and video evidence of the incident with the chairperson of the State Women Commission.
‘A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against the two supervisors,’ said Roshan Lal, an officer at a Rohtak police station said.
‘The FIR includes charges under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for sexual harassment, assault or use of criminal force with intent to disrobe and outrage a woman’s modesty, criminal intimidation, and acts intended to insult the modesty of a woman’.
In a statement, the university said any incident of insecurity at the workplace will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
It reiterated its commitment to ‘always providing a safe, respectful, and culturally sensitive’ work environment.
‘The safety and respect of women are paramount, and that the strictest action will be taken against any form of inappropriate behaviour or misconduct,’ it added.
