A Bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan noted that such incidents reflect widespread unfair treatment and entrenched prejudice against women in leadership roles. The Court emphasized that the arbitrary removal of female representatives, especially in rural areas, often disregards natural justice and democratic principles, treating such actions as routine. This situation demands serious introspection and reform.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court recently addressed gender discrimination faced by elected women representatives, particularly at the Panchayat (village council) level. The case involved the removal of a woman Sarpanch, highlighting a broader issue of systemic bias and collusion against female leaders in rural governance.
A Bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan noted that such incidents reflect widespread unfair treatment and entrenched prejudice against women in leadership roles. The Court emphasized that the arbitrary removal of female representatives, especially in rural areas, often disregards natural justice and democratic principles, treating such actions as routine. This situation demands serious introspection and reform.
The Court observed, “These instances reveal a deep-rooted problem of prejudice and discrimination. Alarmingly, the removal of an elected female representative, particularly in rural and remote areas, is often treated casually, with a blatant disregard for natural justice and democratic principles. This ingrained bias is deeply troubling and calls for urgent reflection and reform.”
The Court further emphasized, “A nation aiming to become an economic powerhouse cannot afford to perpetuate gender discrimination.”
“It is troubling to see such incidents occur repeatedly and become normalized, with similar patterns even in far-flung areas. Administrative authorities, who hold real power and possess ample resources, should set a positive example by actively promoting women’s empowerment and supporting female-led initiatives in rural and remote regions. Rather than fostering regressive attitudes that undermine women in elected roles, they must create an environment that encourages their active participation and leadership in governance,” the Court stated.
BRIEF FACTS
The case involved a 27-year-old woman who was elected Sarpanch of the Sajbahar Gram Panchayat. She faced accusations of delays in road construction projects and was removed from her position in January 2024. After the High Court denied her relief, she approached the Supreme Court, which ordered her reinstatement and awarded Rs1 lakh in compensation for the harassment she endured.
The Court found that she had been unfairly targeted, while responsibility for the delays rested with multiple Panchayat members. The Justices expressed concern over a recurring pattern where female Sarpanches face vendettas from administrative authorities and fellow members, highlighting systemic discrimination.
The judgment criticized the tendency to treat elected representatives as subordinate to bureaucrats, undermining their democratic legitimacy. The Court called for administrative authorities to foster women’s empowerment and support female-led governance initiatives rather than adopting regressive attitudes.
Advocates Manish Kumar Gupta, Lave Kumar Sharma, and Sharadprakash Pandey represented the appellant, Sonam Lakra. Deputy Advocate General Vikrant Singh Bais, along with Advocates Vinayak Sharma, Ravinder Kumar Yadav, Kshitiz Aggarwal, and Kritika Yadav, appeared for the State of Chhattisgarh.
Case Title: Sonam Lakra v. State of Chhattisgarh and Ors
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