Respect for a woman’s dignity not just a matter of personal morality but constitutional obligation: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court affirmed on Tuesday that a woman's dignity is a constitutional obligation, not just a matter of personal morality, as it rejected a plea by a former Intelligence Bureau employee against his compulsory retirement following an allegation of setting his wife on fire. Justice Ayesha Malik and Justice Shahid Waheed ruled that off-duty conduct of sufficient gravity could constitute misconduct, and an acquittal in a criminal case does not undo misconduct established in departmental proceedings.

The court emphasized that a person's conduct in private life may be relevant to their suitability for public office, discipline, and public confidence. The bench held that violence against a woman within her home is a serious matter and that a public institution, such as the Intelligence Bureau, must take such allegations seriously, as it reflects the institution's commitment to upholding the dignity of all its members.