Here is why Supreme Court rejected a woman IPS officer’s bid to join training after childbirth despite being fit

The Supreme Court on Friday declined the plea by IPS probationer Urvashi Sengar to join training at the National police academy after childbirth, despite her claiming to be medically fit.

A Bench of Justices Manoj Misra and Shree Chandrashekhar said that while it agreed with Sengar’s challenge to a 1993 Office Memorandum (OM) of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) which mandates a one year hiatus for women trainees after childbirth, it could not permit her to join the ongoing training programme since nearly one-third of the nine-week course had already concluded.

Sengar, a 2023 batch IPS officer allotted to the Madhya Pradesh cadre, delivered a child on September 20, 2025. Though she claimed that she recovered and was medically fit by the time the training was to begin on June 22, 2026, the authorities declined permission by relying on the 1993 OM.

Sengar first approached the CAT, which permitted her to participate in the training, subject to medical fitness and other formalities. However, the Delhi High Court stayed that order on the very day the training was to begin.

She then moved the Supreme Court.

When the matter was first heard on July 8, the Supreme Court questioned the rationale behind the 1993 OM, observing that it was intended to benefit women officers and should not operate against a probationer who was medically fit to undergo training.

“This is (OM) basically is for the benefit of the women. If she is fit enough to undertake the training, why should it come against her?...She delivered a child on 20.9.2025, the training was to commence on 22.06.26. Nine months virtually. If she is in a position to undertake training, why should this OM be read against her? It is only for her benefit. You have to see the purpose" the Court remarked on July 8.

The Bench had then asked the Centre to obtain instructions on whether Sengar could still be accommodated in the ongoing training programme.

Pursuant to that direction, the matter was kept for further hearing today.

At the outset of today's hearing, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Anil Kaushik, appearing for the Centre, informed the Court that the nine-week training programme had commenced on June 22 and that three weeks of training was already over.

He submitted that the three weeks of training, which Sengar had missed, comprised essential aspects such as field visits, physical training and cadre-specific exercises.

The ASG also told the Court that IPS probationers were required to maintain 95 per cent attendance, failing which they would have to undertake the training again.

The Bench then observed that although it remained persuaded by Sengar’s legal challenge to the OM, allowing her to join for training at this stage would defeat the very purpose of the training.

“If it is a 9 week schedule and 1/3rd is already gone, then it’s a problem. We can say that your seniority won’t be affected. The training has proceeded now. We agree with your submission on merits. But we cannot implement it. 3 out of 9 weeks are gone. You will not be able to be trained properly. It will be to your detriment.” it said.

Sengar’s counsel urged the Court to permit her to attend the remaining part of the programme, submitting that whatever portion had already been missed could be made up later.

“Whatever I have missed, I have missed, I may be allowed to take the remaining part of the training.” he said.

The Bench, however, declined the request. It concluded that permitting Sengar to join at this stage would result in incomplete training and a shortfall in attendance.

Sengar's counsel also pointed out that the larger grievance was that despite the CAT’s order allowing her to take part in the training, the authorities had withdrawn the communication permitting her to report for training even before the Union government had challenged the CAT's order before the Delhi High Court.

The Court then noted that Sengar’s plea challenging the OM was still pending before the CAT.

“Your main petition is pending before CAT. We can say the CAT can proceed without being prejudiced by any observations of the High Court,” it said.

Therefore, it directed that the CAT should proceed to decide Sengar’s challenge to the OM independently, without being influenced by the Delhi High Court’s interim observations.

The Court also recorded the ASG’s statement that the Union government would withdraw its writ petition pending before the Delhi High Court.

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