New Delhi: The Supreme Court has directed Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) to pay Rs 12 lakh in compensation to a woman who was denied a job as a refilling helper at an LPG bottling plant despite being eligible, reportedly because of her gender.
The court criticised the corporation for denying her an equal opportunity and said the decision was an affront to her dignity. Since the woman has now reached retirement age, the bench decided to award her compensation instead of appointment.
A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and Vipul M Pancholi questioned the corporation’s reasoning for not appointing her.
Supreme Court Questions IOC’s Reasoning
During the hearing, the woman’s lawyer, Himanshu Jain, sought an adjournment. However, the bench said it would decide the matter that day.
The corporation’s lawyer argued that the list of selected names was only a recommendation and was not binding. He also said the woman may have been found unsuitable because the job involved manual labour, including lifting LPG cylinders, and required working night shifts.
Responding to the argument, Justice Aravind Kumar questioned whether the woman had been denied the job simply because she was a woman. The judge said, “You denied her appointment just because she is a lady? This is disrespect to womanhood.”
‘An Affront To Womanhood’: SC
The bench expressed concern that the woman had continued to fight for her rights despite reaching retirement age.
The court said she had been pursuing the matter for years and directed the corporation to pay her a lump-sum compensation of Rs 12 lakh. Justice Kumar also criticised the conduct of a government-owned corporation, saying that denying the woman an opportunity was an affront to her dignity.
The bench observed that while women are often spoken of with respect in India, denying an eligible woman a job on the basis of her gender went against that principle. The court’s order provides compensation for the discrimination she faced, as she is now beyond the age of retirement.