Because the oil company considered the work of carrying LPG cylinders unsuitable for women, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) to pay ₹ 12 lakh compensation to a Haryana woman who was denied a job as a helper.
She then approached the Supreme Court. The court passed the order after noting that Sumitra, a Scheduled Caste woman from Karnal, had turned 63, well beyond the age of superannuation, and had spent more than three decades litigating her claim. Sumitra had first approached the trial court, which in 1990 directed IOC to absorb her in a post other than labourer. IOC challenged the decision before the Punjab and Haryana high court, which overturned it in October 2025.
IOC, in its response, told the top court, “As the nature of the job and atmosphere and odd working hours in the company of the males was such that petitioner being lady was not considered fit for the job.
As Sumitra is now beyond the retirement age, the court directed IOC to pay her ₹ 12 lakh as lump-sum compensation. “In India, every day we say a woman is a goddess, respect her. IOC’s lawyer offered to explore mediation during the hearing, but the bench decided against keeping the matter pending, citing the facts and the delay of more than three decades.
This is a fit case for compensation,” the court said.
