India, Dec. 9 -- The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday stayed until further orders, the state government's new menstrual leave policy for women employees across industries.

Justice Jyoti M issued an interim order while hearing two separate petitions, one by the Bangalore Hotels Association and another, by a private hospitality firm, Avirata AFL Connectivity Systems.

The Karnataka government had issued the notification on November 20 this year, mandating that every industrial establishment registered under the Factories Act, the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, the Plantation Labour Act, the Beedi and Cigar Workers Act, and the Motor Transport Workers Act give women employees "one paid menstrual leave every month."

The g...