A recent decision by the Supreme Court has ruled in favor of an army nurse who was fired because she got married. The court stated that firing someone based on marriage is a clear case of gender discrimination, which goes against the principles of the constitution. The court ordered the government to pay ₹60 lakh to the nurse, Selina John, who lost her job in 1988 due to her marriage.
Selina John had initially taken her case to the Armed Forces Tribunal in 2012, which ruled in her favor, but the government appealed the decision in 2019.
The Supreme Court, in its decision on February 14, upheld the tribunal’s judgment, stating that the rule allowing dismissal based on marriage, introduced in 1977, was withdrawn in 1995. The court emphasized that such rules are discriminatory and violate human dignity and the right to fair treatment.
While the court agreed with reinstating Selina John, it modified the tribunal’s ruling and ordered the government to pay ₹60 lakh in compensation instead of providing back wages.
The court highlighted that rules making marriage and domestic involvement a reason for dismissal are unconstitutional. It also mentioned that Selina John had briefly worked in a private organization, and the compensation should be paid within eight weeks of the government receiving the order.