Employers To Exhibit Open-Mindedness And Empathy While Transferring Working Women: Kerala High Court

The petitioners are working women employees of Employees State Insurance Corporation Hospital who were transferred from Ernakulam to Kollam. Subsequently, they challenged the transfer orders before the Central Administrative Tribunal Ernakulam. Aggrieved by the refusal of the Tribunal to interfere with the transfer orders, the petitioners approached the Kerala High Court through O.P (CAT) Nos. 185 & 186 of 2023. The High Court observed that both the petitioners had the responsibility of taking care of their children and aged parents. Further, it noted that the matter was pending before the Tribunal and directed for the matters to be maintained status quo until they are disposed of by the Tribunal. It further observed that working women play major roles in taking care of their children and aged parents and thus, they may find it difficult to maintain a work-life balance in an unfamiliar environment. Thus, it remarked that employers should exhibit open-mindedness and empathy when issuing transfer orders to working women.