A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra issued a directive to the Supreme Court registry on Tuesday to install three machines after advocate Nandini Gore pointed out how difficult it is for women visiting and working in the court to get disposable sanitary napkins when the need arises.

The court released Rs 10 lakh for three machines and an equal number of incinerators to safely dispose of soiled napkins.

Also Chief Justice Misra released Rs 80 lakh for the Supreme Court Bar Association . The amount will go into a fixed deposit. The interest will be used to provide medical assistance to lawyers.

Gore, secretary of the Supreme Court Advocates-On-Record Association (SCAORA), said there are around 1,000 woman lawyers and interns as well as around 250 woman staff with the court registry. “All of them will benefit from today’s order.” she added.

She said she would request the registry to install a machine in the chamber block outside the court complex where lawyers have their offices. The other two, she said, should ideally be placed in washrooms.

Earlier apex court imposed 1.4 cr fine after the CBI established the Gurgaon hospital helped former legislator of the Indian National Lok Dal evade arrest. The funds came from two Gurgaon-based doctors in that hospital who had been indicted for sheltering a politician accused of murder.