Court asks govt. to abolish ‘chhaupadi’ system

Kathmandu, Sept 15-The Supreme Court on Wednesday has ordered the government to enact necessary law to abolish the practice of ‘Chhaupadi’ and declare it as an ‘evil custom’ within a month.

Practised mainly in far-western region, the custom requires women to stay at cow sheds for four days during her menstrual period.

Responding to a public interest litigation filed nearly one and half years ago, a division bench comprising Justices Anup Raj Sharma and Arjun Prasad Singh ordered the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare to formulate necessary directives within three months to abolish the `evil practice.’

Similarly, the apex court asked the Ministry of Health to conduct a study of impact of ‘Chhaupadi system’ within three months and report back to the court. The court also asked the Ministry of Local Development to mobilise local bodies to make people aware against the ‘Chhaupadi system.’

There have been reports of women facing hardships, discrimination and even attack from wild animals while they spent at least four days every month in unsafe, open cow-sheds.