The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday raised questions over the Union Government’s decades-old policy, which bars pregnant Indian Police Service (IPS) probationers from undergoing training.

During the hearing of a petition filed by an IPS officer, the top court observed that a welfare measure designed to shield women cannot be used to deprive them of opportunities if they are medically fit to participate.

Officer Urvashi Sengar files petition

While hearing a petition filed by IPS officer Urvashi Sengar, the apex court sought the Union Government’s response by Thursday and asked whether she could be permitted to join the ongoing Phase-II training programme, which commenced in June 2026.

The bench hearing the petition underlined that the 1993 Office Memorandum (OM) issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) was intended to serve as a beneficial provision and should not function as an instrument to curtail the rights of female officers.

The bench remarked, “This is a beneficiary provision under law for the protection of women and not to take away the right to undergo training if they are fit for it.” It also remarked, “When the purpose of this OM is to enable training of a fit woman, then why are you stopping her if she is fit?”

Blanket rule under judiciary’s scanner

The SC also expressed reservations over the blanket nature of the policy, noting that recovery after childbirth varies from one woman to another. While some may be deemed fit to resume training within nine months of delivery, others may require a longer period. The bench indicated that such cases should be assessed individually based on medical status rather than through a rigid, one-size-fit-all policy.

The Centre contended that granting relief in a single case could open the floodgates for similar claims. However, counsel appearing for Sengar submitted that exceptions had been made in at least two previous cases, where women officers were greenlit to continue or resume training despite the 1993 policy being in force.

What is the 1993 policy?

As per the policy enforced by the Centre back in 1993, women IPS probationers have been advised not to conceive during their training period and mandates that training be halted immediately if any female officer becomes pregnant.

Under the existing rules, a probationer must remain out of training for one year following childbirth before resuming the course. The period is treated as extraordinary leave and does not affect the officer’s seniority.

The top court is now examining whether such a blanket restriction can continue in light of advances in medical science and constitutional guarantees of equality, or whether decisions should instead be based on individual medical assessment.