Pregnant Woman’s Right To Join Service Upheld: Uttarakhand High Court

The Uttarakhand High Court in Writ Petition (S/S) No. 241 of 2024, has issued a significant ruling stating that a woman cannot be denied joining in service merely because she is pregnant, providing relief to a 13-week pregnant woman who was denied joining as a Nursing Officer. After being selected, the petitioner was issued an appointment letter but denied joining on the grounds of temporary unfitness as per the medical fitness certificate. The Court observed that the denial based on pregnancy amounted to gender bias and violated constitutional rights. The Court noted that a woman joining the service and later becoming pregnant would be entitled to maternity leave, questioning the logic behind denying joining due to pregnancy and directed the authorities to allow the petitioner to join immediately, quashing the impugned order.