Allahabad HC Rules Pregnancy Cannot Be Ground to Deny Government Employment

The Allahabad High Court ruled that pregnancy cannot be cited as a valid legal ground to deny government employment or reject candidates in public recruitment drives. Hearing a petition filed by a candidate for the Uttar Pradesh Forest Guard post, the bench directed the UP Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UPSSSC) to grant a deferred physical endurance test without forfeiting the petitioner's selection status.

The petitioner had qualified in the written examination but was temporarily unable to participate in the physical endurance test due to advanced pregnancy. The recruitment body had initially refused to reserve her post or defer her physical assessment, forcing her to approach the High Court. The court held that such administrative rigidities unlawfully penalize women for biological processes linked to maternity.

The court explicitly stated that forcing female candidates to choose between maternity and employment violates fundamental rights under Article 14 (Equality before Law), Article 16 (Equal Opportunity in Public Employment), and Article 21 (Right to Life and Reproductive Choice). The court cited precedents including the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, and Supreme Court rulings affirming reproductive autonomy as an intrinsic part of human dignity.

This ruling reinforces gender equality in public sector recruitment and strengthens legal protections against indirect gender discrimination. For competitive exams, this decision serves as a key case study for UPSC Mains GS Paper II (Social Justice, Gender Equality, Fundamental Rights) and GS Paper I (Society), as well as SSC Polity MCQs.