Archive · 16 Jan 2026
Punjab and Haryana HC Orders 461 Reserved Fireman Posts to Men
In Punjab, India, a court decided that 461 fireman jobs meant for women should be given to men.
This happened because no women passed the physical tests for these jobs.
The court said that since no women qualified, the jobs should be filled by the next best men who did qualify.
The court also said that the rules don't allow these jobs to be saved for later if no women qualify.
This decision was made after a long process where some men who passed the tests asked the court to give them these jobs.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered 461 fireman posts reserved for women to be filled by male candidates as no female candidates qualified.
The court noted that 1,875 women appeared for the physical test, but none cleared it, leaving all women-reserved posts vacant.
Male candidates were required to meet height, chest, and eyesight norms and clear three physical fitness tests, while women were only required to meet height and eyesight standards and were exempt from fitness tests.
The court relied on Rule 5(3) of the Punjab Civil Services (Reservation of Posts for Women) Rules, 2020, which mandates that unfilled women-reserved posts be filled by eligible male candidates.
The court directed the competent authority to fill the remaining vacant posts in accordance with the Rules of 2020, without fixing a timeline for the exercise.
- Who
- Punjab and Haryana High Court, male candidates, female candidates
- What
- Order to fill 461 reserved fireman posts with male candidates due to no female candidates qualifying
- When
- Order passed in 2025, recruitment drive in 2023, results declared on February 4, 2024
- Where
- Punjab, India
- Why
- No female candidates cleared the physical measurement and efficiency test, leaving all 461 posts reserved for women vacant
- Number of Vacant Posts
- 461
- Year of Recruitment Drive
- 2023
- Number of Female Candidates
- 1,875
- Date of Results Declaration
- February 4, 2024
- Rule Cited
- Rule 5(3) of the Punjab Civil Services (Reservation of Posts for Women) Rules, 2020
- Date of Court Order
- September 10, 2025
- Court Ruling Reference
- Gajraj Singh versus State of Haryana (2009)
