GO barring women inspectors joining CS-CID questioned

The first bench comprising chief justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and justice R Mahadevan, while dismissing a PIL moved in this regard by an advocate on the basis that it pertains to third parties, however took suo motu cognisance of the issue as the said order pertained to gender discrimination. 

The bench said, “We are troubled by the intent of the letter dated September 22, 2016, which seeks to suggest that despite willingness, women inspectors cannot be posted to CS-CID, because they were never inducted in the past.” The bench further held: “We find the aforesaid approach completely unacceptable in the current day situation, where there is permanent commission for women even in armed forces and are concerned by the approach adopted by the said officer.”

The bench then called on the Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary, Department of Home and the Director General of Police to file their counter affidavits within two weeks. On posting the case for further hearing to January 13, the bench also directed the State to produce before it the GO No 994, which apparently seeks to debar women officers.