Case name: Chairman, Railway Board v. Chandrima Das
Citation: (2002) 2 SCC 465
Court: Supreme Court of India
Date of decision: January 31, 2002
Parties:
Appellant: Chairman, Railway Board
Respondent: Chandrima Das
Background:
Chandrima Das was working as a senior section officer in the office of the Chairman, Railway Board. She filed a petition before the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) alleging that she was being discriminated against on the basis of her sex. She claimed that she was not being considered for promotion to the post of Under Secretary as she was a woman. The CAT ordered the Railway Board to consider her for promotion.
The Railway Board challenged the CAT’s decision before the Supreme Court.
Issues:
- Whether Chandrima Das was discriminated against on the basis of her sex?
- Whether the Railway Board had violated any rules or regulations in not promoting Chandrima Das?
Decision:
The Supreme Court held that Chandrima Das was discriminated against on the basis of her sex. The court observed that the discrimination against women in promotions was a well-known phenomenon and that gender bias was deeply ingrained in the minds of people. The court held that the Railway Board had violated the principles of equality and non-discrimination by not considering Chandrima Das for promotion.
The court also held that the Railway Board had violated the rules and regulations governing promotions. The court observed that the Railway Board had not followed the guidelines issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) for promotions. The court ordered the Railway Board to consider Chandrima Das for promotion to the post of Under Secretary in accordance with the guidelines issued by the DoPT.
Conclusion:
The Supreme Court upheld the CAT’s decision and ordered the Railway Board to consider Chandrima Das for promotion to the post of Under Secretary. The court held that the Railway Board had violated the principles of equality and non-discrimination by not considering her for promotion and had also violated the rules and regulations governing promotions. The court’s decision was a significant step towards ensuring gender equality in the workplace.
Summary
The Supreme Court held that Chandrima Das was discriminated against on the basis of her sex, and that the Railway Board had violated the principles of equality and non-discrimination by not considering her for promotion to the post of Under Secretary. The court also held that the Railway Board had violated the rules and regulations governing promotions by not following the guidelines issued by the Department of Personnel and Training. The court ordered the Railway Board to consider Chandrima Das for promotion to the post of Under Secretary in accordance with the guidelines issued by the DoPT.
