ORDER

HON'BLE Mrs.V.RAMA MATHEW, ADMINISTRATIVE MEMBER

This is a very unusual instance of an allegation of gender discrimination under Article 14 in a bureaucratic setup. Briefly speaking the facts are as follows – the applicants had been appointed as Police Constables in the year 1994 in existing vacancies in the Department of Police under Union Territory of Lakshadweep as per Annexure A-1. These appointments were under the Lakshadweep Police (Group C posts) – Women Police Constable Recruitment Rules, 1988 dated 25.01.1988, a copy of which is produced as Annexure MA R15. Presently the applicants are serving as Police Constables. They are aggrieved by non consideration of their names for promotion in service as Head Constables as a result of discrimination on the ground of gender. Several junior Police Constables, who are males, such as respondents 4 to 18 had been promoted as per Annexure A-5 proceedings. The applicants have been denied promotion opportunity only on the ground of sex which is unfair, illegal and discriminatory. They have been serving the department since 1994 without any promotion and are entitled to be promoted at least with effect from 18.04.2017 with all benefi