Q. Which Fundamental Right is violated if the government decides not to promote an officer of the armed forces for being a woman?
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Option a is correct. Article 14 provides that the state shall not deny to any person equality before the law or equal protection of laws within the territory of India. So, denying the promotion of women officers is against the rule of law as this article sees all person equal in the eye of law.
Article 15 states that the state shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them. But denying the promotion on the basis of sex (women) is a violation of article 15. Article 16 states that no citizen shall, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, descent place of birth, residence or any of them be ineligible for or discriminated against in respect of any employment or office under the state. Thus, promotion if only provided to men and not to women is a clear violation of Article 16. Right to undertake any profession- All citizens are given the right to practise any profession or to carry on any occupation, trade or business. This right only covers all the means of earning one’s livelihood. It does not prohibit any discrimination in respect of any employment or office under the state (this is dealt in Article 16).
