India, March 13 -- The Supreme Court on Friday said that menstrual leaves, if made mandatory at workplaces, would hamper job opportunities for women as firms won't be willing to hire them anymore.

A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi made the observations while hearing a plea seeking menstrual leaves for female students and working women across India.

The top court said it would be "excellent" if private companies granted these leaves voluntarily, but making them compulsory would hurt women's careers. "The moment you say compulsory in law, nobody will give them jobs, nobody will take them in judiciary or govt jobs , their career is over ....they will say- you should sit at home after informing e...