Kochi: The Kerala High Court has held unsustainable the rules and government orders against employing women at toddy or liquor shops. The court made it clear that they are in violation of Article 14 and 15 of the Constitution of India. A single bench of the court made the observation while asking Kerala Public Service Commission to appoint seven women candidates shortlisted for the post of peon/helper in the Kerala State Beverages (Manufacturing and Marketing) Corporation.
The court held that the petitioners should be accommodated against the available vacancies without reference to whether such vacancies are in shops or
otherwise. If no such vacancies are available, they shall be appointed against the supernumerary vacancies and upcoming vacancies, the court added, while considering a plea of B. Sanuja, L. Chandralekha, Archana, A. Sreeja, S. Sheeba and S. Suja of Kollam. They were not given appointments in their turn stating the condition that no women shall be employed in any capacity in FL-1 shops (Bevco retail outlets). The petitioner argued that surpassing their candidature all male candidates on the main list have got appointed.
