A woman denied a job at an Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) LPG bottling plant because of her gender has received Rs 12 lakh compensation after the Supreme Court heard her long-running case of Supreme Court woman job discrimination.
The bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and Vipul M Pancholi questioned why the woman was denied the appointment simply because she was a woman. The court also noted that women regularly lift and replace LPG cylinders at home, questioning the assumption that they cannot perform such work.
Woman Was Among 49 Recommended Candidates
The woman, a resident of Gudha village in Punjab, was among 49 people recommended for employment at an IOC LPG bottling plant by a local committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner.
She appeared for an interview for the post of casual khalasi, peon or refilling helper. While 43 other candidates received appointment letters, she did not receive one.
The trial court found that she met the prescribed eligibility requirements. It also relied on evidence from a defence witness indicating that the authorities had denied her the job because she was a woman.
The trial court directed IOC to accommodate her in a suitable casual or administrative position. However, the first appellate court later reversed the decision, holding that her name was only recommended and that she had not been finally selected.
High Court Had Also Rejected Her Claim
The matter then reached the Punjab and Haryana High Court. On October 14, 2025, the High Court upheld the appellate court’s decision, observing that the recommendation did not create a legal or vested right to appointment.
The woman continued her legal battle and eventually approached the Supreme Court. During the hearing, IOC’s counsel referred to the physical nature of the work, including lifting LPG cylinders and working night shifts.
The bench questioned the gender-based reasoning and highlighted that women routinely handle LPG cylinders in their homes. The court described the alleged exclusion on this basis as an affront to womanhood.
Supreme Court Awards Rs 12 Lakh Compensation
By the time the matter reached the Supreme Court, the woman had reached retirement age. Therefore, instead of ordering an appointment, the court considered lump-sum compensation appropriate and directed IOC to pay her Rs 12 lakh.
The Supreme Court also declined IOC’s request to send the matter for mediation. The Supreme Court woman job discrimination case has now ended with compensation after years of litigation over the woman’s employment claim.
FAQs
Q: What is the Supreme Court woman job discrimination case about?
A: The Supreme Court woman job discrimination case concerns a woman who was denied an IOC LPG plant job and later received Rs 12 lakh compensation.
Q: Why was the woman denied the LPG plant job?
A: Evidence before the trial court indicated that her gender was a reason for denying her appointment. IOC also referred to the physical nature of the job.
Q: How much compensation did IOC have to pay?
A: In the Supreme Court woman job discrimination case, IOC was directed to pay the woman Rs 12 lakh as lump-sum compensation.
Q: Why did the Supreme Court award compensation instead of a job?
A: The Supreme Court woman job discrimination case had continued for years, and the woman had reached retirement age by the time the matter came before the Supreme Court.