DEIB India Updates - April '25 Edition

Discover key legal insights and societal inclusion steps in DEI India Updates April 25 Edition.

1. The Supreme Court upheld the Bombay High Court's decision to set aside directions issued by the Disability Commissioner against a bank official in Sagar Jawdekar v, The Canara Bank & Ors. The Court ruled that the Commissioner, in directing the bank official to undergo eight days of mandatory disability training and required a written public apology to a caregiver of a person with an intellectual disability, citing alleged rude and discriminatory behaviour, exceeded its statutory authority in ordering actions against the bank official. The ruling reinforces the principle that administrative bodies must operate within the confines of their legal authority. The judgment also clarifies that directions issued by such bodies cannot override established legal and judicial frameworks. Read the Order here.

   
   

2. The Supreme Court of India, in the case of Prabhjot Kaur v. State of Punjab, upheld the reservation of a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) post for Scheduled Caste (SC) Sports (Women) candidates, as specified in Advertisement No. 14 dated 11-12-2020. The Court emphasised that eligibility criteria outlined in a recruitment advertisement cannot be altered midway through the selection process. It noted that the appellant was the sole SC woman candidate who successfully qualified for the post, making her the only eligible appointee under the specified category. The Court set aside the Punjab and Haryana High Court's Division Bench order and reinstated the Single Judge's decision favouring the Appellant. Read the Order here.

   
   

3. Supreme Court Judge Justice B.V. Nagarathna observed that women’s increasing participation in traditionally male-dominated arenas—such as courtrooms and corporate boardrooms—represents a rightful reclamation of space, not an invasion. She made these remarks at the launch of the book Women Laws from the Womb to the Tomb: Rights and Remedies by Senior Advocate Mahalakshmi Pavani, underscoring the legal and societal dimensions of women’s rights. Justice Nagarathna highlighted that decades of patriarchal discrimination had unjustly excluded women from these roles. She framed the current surge in women’s representation as a form of restitution, correcting historical gender imbalances. Emphasising equality, she noted that empowering women does not diminish men’s roles but rather advances fair participation for all. Justice Nagarathna called for continued legal reforms and societal support to sustain and deepen women’s equitable inclusion. Her address stressed the vital role of both jurisprudence and cultural change in securing women’s rightful status across professions.

   
   

4. In a historic development, the Pala Bar Association in Kerala has elected an all-women executive committee, filling all 15 leadership positions with female lawyers for the first time since its establishment in 1957. This unprecedented outcome surpasses the Supreme Court's directive mandating one-third female representation in bar associations, setting a new benchmark for gender inclusivity in the legal profession. The newly elected team emphasised their commitment to inclusivity, professional development, and greater participation of women in legal leadership roles. The election results reflect a significant shift in the traditionally male-dominated legal field, challenging entrenched patriarchal norms and promoting diversity. This achievement aligns with broader efforts to enhance women's participation in legal institutions across India.