The Supreme Court has delivered a groundbreaking verdict in favor of a daughter who was denied employment after her father’s death, declaring her fully eligible for the job. The nine-page ruling, written by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, emphasizes that a woman’s identity, legal rights, and autonomy do not end with marriage.
The court ruled that excluding married daughters from their late father’s employment quota is both illegal and discriminatory. According to the KP Civil Servants Rules, all children of a deceased or medically retired government employee are entitled to employment, regardless of their marital status.
The ruling also highlighted that a section officer cannot alter established rules through an explanatory letter, as executive instructions cannot override the law. Disqualifying daughters based on their marital status is discriminatory and violates Articles 25, 27, and 14 of the Constitution.
The judgment reaffirmed that marriage does not strip a woman of her legal rights, individuality, or autonomy. It further clarified that financial independence is a fundamental right that cannot be dependent on marital status.