Supreme Court will soon get three sanitary napkin vending machines.

An order to that effect was passed by a Bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud in a contempt petition against two doctors, who were found guilty of sheltering an ex-MLA accused of murder.

The Court in an earlier order had found the two doctors guilty of contempt by sheltering the legislator thereby defeating the order of the Court, which had denied bail to the accused legislator.

The Court had also asked the doctors to pay Rs. 1.4 crore to the Registry as punishment.

When the matter came up for hearing on October 3, the Court noted that the contemnors have deposited the amount with the Registry.

It then proceeded to direct the utilization of the said amount.

Taking note of the submissions made by advocate Nandini Gore, who is the Secretary of Supreme Court Advocate-on-Record Association (SCAORA), that there is need for three vending machines for dispensing sanitary napkins and three incinerators for disposal of the used sanitary napkins, the Court ordered that Rs. 5 lakh be used by the Registry for purchase of three vending machines for dispensing sanitary napkins and three incinerators for disposal of the used sanitary napkins.

“From the balance amount, a sum of Rs.5,00,000/- (Rupees five lakhs only) be used by the Registry of this Court for purchase of three vending machines for dispensing sanitary napkins and three incinerators for disposal of the used sanitary napkins. The Registry shall also fix them at suitable locations.”

Besides the above, the Court also directed that Rs. 85 lakh be given to the Supreme Court Bar Association. The said amount has to be kept in a fixed deposit and the interest from it shall be disbursed for medical assistance to the members of the SCBA on proper verification. Similarly, an amount of Rs. 45 lakh has been given to the SCAORA for the same purpose.

Read the order below.