City
Epaper

Woman who missed Bihar Police test for pregnancy gets SC relief

By IANS | Updated: October 6, 2019 16:40 IST

The Supreme Court has granted relief to a woman seeking to participate in the physical evaluation test for employment in Bihar Police as she could not attend the test owing to her pregnancy.

Open in App

The court has also directed the Bihar Police Subordinate Service Commission to conduct the physical tests for those women who could not attend the physical tests for the same reason.

A bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Krishna Murari has said that women candidates should not suffer a handicap on account of pregnancy.

"The presence of lady members in the police force, considering the crimes against women, is a prime need of the hour," the apex court said.

"Thus, we feel that every endeavor should be made to ensure that there is higher representation of women in the police services."

The observations of the bench came while hearing the plea of one Khusbu Sharma, who could not appear in the Bihar Police physical evaluation test due to her advanced stage of pregnancy in 2018. Sharma participated and qualified in the preliminary examination in March 2018, and thereafter in the main examination conducted on July 22, 2018.

The next stage involved undergoing the Physical Evaluation Test (PET) which was scheduled for September 25, 2018.

Being in an advanced stage of pregnancy with the delivery was expected in October 2018, Sharma sought an extension for taking the physical test for three to six months on account of being completely in bed rest as advised by the doctor.

When her plea went unheard, she approached the Supreme Court.

Upholding Sharma's plea, the court also said that not only here, but all such candidates who had sought deferment on account of pregnancy alone should be called for the physical test.

The court noted that 73 women could not attend the physical test due to pregnancy.

The court, however, clarified that the qualifying candidates shall be adjusted against the vacancies advertised this year, as the woman had challenged in respect of the 2018 vacancy, which has since been filled.

The court also said that the process should be completed within a period of two months.

Clarifying, however, that this is a one-time measure, the court said: "We are not inclined to open a floodgate affecting the sanctity of the future examination."

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: biharSanjay Kishan KaulKrishna Murari
Open in App

Related Stories

NationalBihar Train Accident: 4 Killed, Two Injured After Being Hit by Vande Bharat Express in Purnea

NationalJharkhand Accident: Two from Bihar Killed, One Injured as Motorcycle Hits Highway Divider in Godda

NationalBihar: Mini-Gun Factory Busted in Patna, Six Held With Weapons

NationalBihar Road Accident: Cook Dies After Trailer Truck Hits Parked Vehicles and Crashes Into Hotel in Kaimur

NationalBihar Protests: Kargahar Residents Demand CM Nitish Kumar Give Ticket to Badri Bhagat Ahead of Upcoming Elections (Watch Video)

National Realted Stories

NationalModern-day Ravana PM Modi’s policies have weakened our production: Udit Raj

NationalDemocracy not in danger; your political existence is: BJP, JD(U) slam Rahul Gandhi

NationalRajya Sabha MP Aditya Sahu appointed working president of Jharkhand BJP

NationalMP disburses Rs 653 crore to 8.8 lakh farmers against crop losses from rain, yellow mosaic virus

NationalHeavy rain triggers floods in Vamsadhara, Nagavali in north coastal Andhra