The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has mandated that the National Testing Agency (NTA) must ensure the availability of sanitary pads in close proximity to toilets at all National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) examination centers nationwide. In a recent verdict, the court instructed the testing agency to guarantee that all NEET examinees on May 5 have convenient access to restroom facilities and sanitary pads.

The court's directive emphasized the necessity for every examination center to provide adequate toilet facilities equipped with water amenities.

Further, the Court mandated that a sufficient quantity of sanitary products be kept near the toilets to accommodate any girl who may have arrived unprepared. Furthermore, the order specified that female candidates must be granted access to restroom facilities as needed.

These directives were prompted by a petition filed by a 19-year-old individual who experiences challenges controlling the urge to urinate due to a medical condition. In her petition, she requested accommodations such as being allowed to use an adult diaper and change it as needed during exam hours. Additionally, she alleged that her requests to the NTA for accommodation had gone unanswered.

"If the facilities required by the petitioner are denied, she will not be able to take the examination. That would lead to discrimination that is forbidden by Article 14 of the Constitution of India," the court said. 

In court, the testing agency mentioned and agreed to the petitioner's requests.

The court instructed the NTA to conduct advance inspections of toilets at examination centers to prevent the need for candidates to undergo repeated frisking. Additionally, the testing agency was directed to raise awareness about these provisions to alleviate stress among female candidates during the examination process.

NEET, a highly competitive examination, serves as a mandatory test for individuals seeking admission to medical colleges.