Will SC scrutiny trigger a major policy shift in IPS maternity rules?

The Supreme Court has sharply questioned the validity of a 1993 Ministry of Home Affairs policy that effectively bars postpartum Indian Police Service (IPS) probationers from undergoing active training. Hearing a plea by a new mother seeking to join Phase II training, a bench of Justices Manoj Misra and Shree Chandrashekhar pointedly asked, "If she is fit, then why stop her?"

The apex court strongly criticized the blanket nature of the 1993 Office Memorandum, emphasizing that physical recovery varies significantly among individuals. It noted that welfare provisions designed to protect women must not be twisted to deny them crucial career opportunities, advocating for objective medical assessments over rigid, decades-old bureaucratic rules.

While government counsel warned against opening "floodgates" by granting relaxations, the court demanded a rigorous "application of mind" from the Centre.