Supreme Court says respecting women’s dignity is a constitutional obligation

Court rejects ex-IB cook appeal

A two-member bench headed by Justice Ayesha Malik rejected the plea filed by Jawad Abbasi against his compulsory retirement. The Federal Service Tribunal had upheld the decision on January 15 to remove him from service after disciplinary proceedings found charges established. Abbasi, who worked as a cook, faced allegations including setting his wife on fire and being ill-mannered.

Criminal acquittal does not undo misconduct

Justice Shahid Waheed affirmed that an acquittal in a criminal case does not erase misconduct independently established during departmental proceedings. The court ruled that off-duty conduct of sufficient gravity may constitute misconduct regardless of later legal outcomes. Departmental orders dated June 14, 2024, penalized Abbasi with compulsory retirement based on these findings.

State expects dignity from all

The judgment declared that respect for a woman's dignity is not merely a matter of personal morality but an obligation the state expects from everyone in its service. This principle applies whether the woman is a wife, sister, daughter, mother or fellow citizen. The court emphasized this fundamental value is protected under the Constitution.