According to a news report published in The Express Tribune, the SC has given this judgment, while hearing the case of a female candidate – Ruqia Islam – who was denied the post of a teacher at Government Boys High School Thata Khalil, Taxila in 2008. SC’s four-page judgement has been authored by Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin Ahmed stating that the applicant Ruqia was eligible for the job but was refused the opportunity only because of her gender.
The apex court while highlighting the importance of women in a society, declared that “the constitution commanded the government to take measures and formulate policies to provide females a congenial working environment free from harassment or discrimination.”
The judgment further referred to Article 34 of the constitution saying, “steps shall be taken to ensure full participation of women in all spheres of national life”.
The restriction was imposed in Recruitment Policy of Educators in the Government Schools 2008-2009 by the then Punjab government claiming that the female teachers lacked the capacity to handle grown up male students in classes.