SC awards ₹12 lakh to Haryana woman denied Indian Oil Corporation job in 1988
Haryana woman was denied helper’s job at an LPG bottling plant in 1988 because the company considered the work of carrying gas cylinders unsuitable for women
The Supreme Court recently ordered Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) to pay ₹12 lakh in compensation to a Haryana woman who was unjustly denied a job as a helper at an LPG bottling plant in 1988 due to gender discrimination. The bench of justices Aravind Kumar and Vipul M Pancholi expressed deep concern over the company's decision, deeming it a "disrespect to womanhood" and a violation of the fundamental rights of women.
Sumitra, the woman petitioner, hails from the Scheduled Caste community and resides in Karnal, Haryana. Despite meeting all the educational and job-related requirements, she was overlooked for the position among a list of 49 shortlisted candidates. IOC argued that the nature of the job and the working environment, which involved handling gas cylinders, made it unsuitable for a woman.
However, the court rejected this justification, emphasizing the long-standing discrimination faced by Sumitra throughout the legal process that spanned over three decades. The court expressed strong disapproval of IOC's decision, stating that it was an affront to the dignity and respect due to women in society.
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