Gujarat High Court Intervenes in Gender-Based Job Cancellation Case
The Gujarat High Court has taken significant action in a case involving alleged gender discrimination in government employment. The court has formally requested an explanation from state authorities after a qualified male candidate had his appointment as a mid-day meal cook abruptly cancelled solely because of his gender.
Meritorious Selection Followed by Sudden Reversal
According to detailed court documents, Mahesh Bhabhor from Dahod district responded to a state government advertisement for the position of cook under the mid-day meal programme in Singhvad taluka. Bhabhor successfully navigated the entire selection process and emerged as the most meritorious candidate among all applicants. Following this achievement, he received an official appointment order issued by the mamlatdar, confirming his selection for the position.
The situation took an unexpected turn on November 25, 2025, when Bhabhor received formal communication informing him that his appointment had been cancelled. The cancellation order, issued by the deputy collector at Limkheda, explicitly stated that the sole reason for this reversal was that Bhabhor was a male candidate. This development occurred before he could even begin his service in the appointed role.
Legal Challenge and Court Proceedings
Following the cancellation, Bhabhor pursued multiple avenues of redress. He initially appealed the decision before the district collector and subsequently filed a formal petition in the Gujarat High Court through his legal representative, advocate Shivangi Gupta. The petition strongly contended that the cancellation lacked valid justification, as the only documented reason provided was Bhabhor's gender.
The petitioner presented compelling arguments highlighting several critical oversights in the cancellation process. Bhabhor emphasized that the original government advertisement contained no specifications reserving the position exclusively for female candidates. Furthermore, the advertisement failed to mention any eligibility restrictions based on gender, nor did it indicate that male applicants would be disqualified from consideration or appointment.
Court documents revealed additional context to the case. The deputy sarpanch of Bhabhor's village, along with Rajeshwari Kalara—the candidate who secured second position in the merit list—had written to concerned authorities noting that the appointed candidate was male. Despite these communications, the cancellation order itself referenced no other substantive reasons beyond gender.
Judicial Response and Ongoing Proceedings
During preliminary hearings, Justice Nirzar Desai of the Gujarat High Court took cognizance of the matter and issued formal notices to relevant authorities. The court order specifically stated: "Notice, returnable on April 20, 2026. Learned AGP waives service for respondent Nos. 1 (state government), 2 (Dahod collector), 4 (deputy collector, Limkheda) and 5 (Mamlatdar, Singhvad)."
In his petition, Bhabhor made additional requests to the court, including seeking restraint on authorities from filling the contested position until his appointment could be properly restored. The case has raised important questions about employment practices within government schemes and the application of gender criteria in hiring processes where such specifications were not originally declared.
This legal development highlights ongoing discussions about equal opportunity employment within public sector programmes. The mid-day meal scheme, a significant government initiative aimed at providing nutritional support to school children, now finds itself at the center of a debate about hiring practices and gender neutrality in employment criteria.
