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

The Supreme Court (SC) declared on Tuesday that upholding a woman's dignity extends beyond personal morality and is a constitutional obligation for everyone in the country's service. The two-member bench, comprising Justice Ayesha Malik and Justice Shahid Waheed, dismissed a plea by former Intelligence Bureau (IB) employee Jawad Abbasi against his compulsory retirement.

Abbasi faced disciplinary proceedings under the Civil Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 2020 for allegedly setting his wife on fire, exhibiting ill-mannered and short-tempered behavior, and engaging in conduct prejudicial to the IB's good order and service discipline. Despite the lower court acquitting Abbasi in the criminal case, the SC ruled that the matter was not a private or domestic issue between the married couple and that Abbasi's conduct outside his workplace and office hours could be relevant to his suitability for public service.

The SC emphasized that the dignity of a woman, regardless of her relationship to the accused, is a fundamental value protected by the Constitution. The court stated that the conduct of a civil servant is not confined solely to their official duties and that their character, integrity, and private life can be relevant if it affects their suitability for public office or the institution they serve.