The Supreme Court has directed Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) to pay Rs 12 lakh in compensation to a woman who was denied a job allegedly because she was considered incapable of lifting LPG cylinders. The court said denying a woman employment solely because of her gender was an affront to her dignity and equal opportunity. The woman, identified as Sumitra, had applied for the post of refilling helper at an IOCL LPG bottling plant in Punjab. By the time her long legal battle reached the Supreme Court, she had already crossed the retirement age, making an appointment impractical.
Woman Denied Job Over LPG Cylinder Work
Sumitra, a resident of Gudha village, was among 49 people recommended for employment by a local committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner. She appeared for an interview for the post of casual khalasi/peon/refilling helper. While several other candidates received appointment letters, Sumitra did not. According to the case record, evidence before the trial court indicated that her candidature was rejected because she was a woman. The dispute then went through multiple stages of litigation. The trial court had granted relief to Sumitra, but the first appellate court later reversed that decision. The Punjab and Haryana High Court, in an October 14, 2025 order, upheld the appellate court’s decision, holding that she did not have a legal or vested right to appointment.
‘Women Lift LPG Cylinders Every Day’
The Supreme Court took a different view of the gender-discrimination issue. The bench questioned the assumption that women could not perform work involving LPG cylinders, noting that women routinely lift and replace LPG cylinders in their homes. The court observed that denying employment to a woman merely because she is a woman amounts to an affront to her dignity.
Compensation Instead of Appointment
Since Sumitra has now reached retirement age, the Supreme Court considered compensation an appropriate remedy and directed IOCL to pay her Rs 12 lakh. The case highlights the importance of ensuring that employment decisions are not based on gender stereotypes, particularly when determining whether a person is capable of performing a particular job.
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Shamshad Ali is a New Delhi–based journalist with over six years of experience spanning breaking news writing, on-the-ground reporting, and editing. When he isn’t chasing headlines, Shamshad is usually exploring new destinations, discovering hidden culinary gems, and striking up conversations with strangers. Many of whom turn out to be great sources, and even better friends. He can be reached at shamshadali.dar@gmail.com.
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