Holding

The clause terminating an air hostess's service on first pregnancy is unconstitutional, and the Managing Director's discretionary extension power is invalid due to excessive delegation of authority, while the remaining provisions stand.

Summary

The Supreme Court examined the constitutionality of Air India Employees Service Regulations 46 and 47, which mandated retirement of air hostesses (AHs) at age 35, on marriage within four years of service, or on first pregnancy, and allowed the Managing Director to extend service up to age 45. The Court held that the provision terminating service on first pregnancy was arbitrary and violative of Article 14, striking it down, and also struck down the discretionary extension power in Regulation 47 as an excessive delegation of authority. It affirmed that AHs constitute a separate class from male cabin crew, so differential treatment between the classes does not breach equality provisions, but the specific provisions were unconstitutional. The writ petitions were partly allowed and the transferred case was disposed.

Issues considered

Whether the retirement and termination provisions for air hostesses under Regulation 46( i )(c) violate Article 14 of the Constitution.
Whether the discretionary power granted to the Managing Director under Regulation 47 constitutes excessive delegation of power and violates Article 14.
Whether air hostesses form a separate class from other cabin crew, thereby exempting differential service conditions from Article 14 scrutiny.
Whether the bar on marriage within four years of service is reasonable and constitutional.
Whether the Equal Remuneration Act 1976 declaration shields the regulations from discrimination claims.

Legislation cited

Air India Corporations Act, 1953s. Section 3, s. Section 34
Constitution of Indias. Article 14, s. Article 15, s. Article 16
Equal Remuneration Act, 1976s. Section 16, s. Section 4(3), s. Section 4(i)
Indian Evidence Act, 1872s. Section 115
Maharashtra Maternity Rules, 1965
Maternity Benefit Act, 1961

Subjects

Article 14EqualityGender discriminationAir hostessesRetirement agePregnancyMarriage barExcessive delegation of powersSeparate class doctrineService regulationsConstitutional law

Judgment

A 438

AIR INDJA ETC. ETC.
v.
NERGESH MEERZA & ORS. ETC. ETC.
8
August 28, 1981

[S. MURTAZA FAZAL ALI, A. VARADARAJAN AND
AMARENDRA NATH SEN, JJ.J

c Constitution of India 1950, Articles 14 and 16, Air India Employees Service
Regulations, Regulations 46 and 47, Indian Airline Service Regulation, Regulation
12.

Different conditions of service of Air Hostesses employed by Air India in India
and United Kingdom-Validity of.

Conditions of service-Discrimination-Determination Of question.
D
Retirement of Air Hostesses in the event of marriage taking place within
four years of service-Whether unreasonable or arbitrary.

E
Retirement of Air Hostess-Provision in service rule, or on first pregnancy
whichever occurs earlier-Whether unconstitutional.

Retirement age of Air Hostess-Fixation of at 45 instead of .58-Whether in-
.---
valid.

Air Hostess-Extension of service-Option conferred on Managing Director-·
Whether exces:,fre delegation of power.

Air India Corporations Act 1953, S. 3-Air India International and Indian
F Air Lines-Whether separate and distinct entities.

Indian Evidence Act 1872, S. 115-Estoppel against law-~Vhether permis-
sible.

By virtue of section 3 of the Air Corporation Act, 1953 the Central
G Government created two corporations known as Air India International and
Indian Air Lines. A.I. operating international flights and the I.A.C. operating
domestic flights within the country.

Air Hostessess employed by Air India were governed by Regulations 46
and 47 of Air India Employees Service Regulations and the Air Hostessess
H employed by l.A.C. were governed by the Indian Airlines Service, Regulation
No.12.
AIR INDIA V. NERGESH MEERZA 439

A.H. under A.I. was retiied f1om service in the following contingencies : A
(a) On attaining the age of 35 years;

(b) On marriage if it took place within four years of the service; and

(c) on first pregnancy.
B
The age of retirement of AH could be extended upto ten years by grant·
ing yearly extensions at the option of the Managing Director. If the Managing
Director chose to exercise his discretion under Regulation 47 an AH could retire
at the age of 45 years.

A.H. under I.A.C. i•. was governed by similar service conditions except that
the age of retirement of permanent AHs could be ex.tendP;d upto 40 years. c
In their transferred case and writ petitions, it was contended on behalf of
the A.H. that the Air Hostess employed by one corporation or the other from
the same class of service as the AFPs and other 1nembers of the cabin crew, per-
forming identical or similar duties and hence any discrimination made between
these two employees who are similarly circumstanced was clearly violative of
0
Art. 14, (2) There was an inter sc discrimination between the AHs posted in
the United Kingdom and those serving in the other Air India flights (3) the
AHs have been particularly selecte:l for hostile descrimioation by the Corpora-
tion mainly on the ground of sex or disabilities arising from sex and, therefore,
the regulations amount to a clear infraction of the provisions of Art. 15(1) and
Art. 16(4). The termination of the services of AHs on the ground of pregnancy
or marriage within four years is manifestly unreasonable wholly arbitrary and
E
violative of Art. 14 (5). (6) Apart from discrimination regarding the age of
retirement, AHs have been completely deprived of pron1otional opportunities
available to the male members of th.; cabin crew.

The Management contested the petitions by contending: (I) Having
regard to the nature of job functions, the mode of recruitment of AHs, their F
qualifications, their promotional avenues and the circumstances in which they
retire, AHs fall within a category separate from the class to which the pursers
belong and there can be no question of discrimination or contravention of Art. 14
which would apply if there is discrimination between the members of the same
class inter se. (2) The recruitment of the AHs is actually sex based recruitment
made not on the ground of sex alone but sway.::d by a lot of other considerations
and hence Art. 15(2) of the Constitution is not attracted. (3) Regulation 46 of the G
A.I. Regulations and the IAC Regulation 12 have been upheld by the Khosla
and Mahesh Awards. They have statutory force and unless they are \'per se
arbitrary or discriminatory the Court ought not to interfere with them particularly
when those two Awards are binding on the parties. (4) Having regard to the
circumstances prevailing in India a:1d the effects .:>f marriage the bar of preg-
nancy and marriage is undoubtedly a reasonable restriction placed in public
interest. (5) If the bar of marriage or pregnancy is removed it will lead to
H
440 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1982] I S.C.R.

A huge practical difficulties as a result of which very heavy expenditure would have
to be incurred by the Corporations to make arrangements.

Partly al!owing the petitions,

HELD: l{i). The impugned prov1s1ons appear to be a clear case of offi-
cial arbitrariness. As the impugned part of the regulation is severable from the
B rest of the regulation, it is not necessary to strike down the entire
regulation. [491 A]

(ii) That part of Regulation 47 which gives option to the Managing
Director to extend the service of an AH is struck down. The effect of striking
down this provision would be that an AH, unless the provision is suitably amend-
ded to bring it, in conformity with the provisions of Art. 14 would continue to
c retire at the age of 45 years and the Managillg Director would be bound to
grant yearly extensions as a matter of course for a period of ten years if the AH
is found to be medically fit. This will prevent the Managing Director from
discriminating between one AH and another. (501 A-B]

(iii). The last portion of regulation 46 (i) (c) struck down. The provision
'or on first pregnancy whichever occurs earlier• is unconstitutional, void and
D violative of Article 14 of the Constitution and will, therefore, stand deleted. It
will, however, be open to the Corporation to make suitable amendments. (491B]

2. It is undisputed that whal Art. 14 prohibits is hostile discrimination and
not reasonable classification. If equals and unequals are differently treated, there
is no discrimination so as to amount to an infraction of Art. 14 of the Constitu-
tion. A fortiori if equals or persons similarly circumstanced are differently
E treated, discrimination results so as to attract the provisions of Art. 14.
[456 G-H, 457 A]

3. If there are two separate and different classes having different condi-
tions of service and different incidents the question of discrimination does not
--
arise. On the ocher hand, if among the members of the same class, discrimi-
natory treatment is meted out to one against the other, Art. 14 is doubtless
attracted. [457 A-Bl
F
4. The following propositions emerge from an analysis and examination
of cases decided by this Court :

(1) In considering the fundamental right or equality of opportunity a
technical, pedantic or doctrinaire approach should not be made and the doctrine
should not be invoked even if differ~nt s;;ales of pay service terms, leave, etc.
G are introduced in different or dissimilar posts. [462 G-H, 463 A]

Thus where the class or categories of service are essentially different in
purport and spirit, Art. 14 cannot be attracted. [463 B]

(2) Art. 14 forbids hostile discrimination but not reasonable classification.
H Thus, where persons belonging to a particular class in view of their special
attributes, qualities .• mode of recruitment and the like, are differently treated in
public interest to advance and boost members belonging to backward cJasses,
AIR INDIA V. NERGESH MEERZA 441

having a close nexus with the objects sought to be achieved JArt. 14 will be A
completely out of the way. (463 B·D]

(3) Art. 14 certainly applies where equals are treated differently without
any reasonable basis. [466 DJ

(4) Where equals and unequ1ls are trl!atej differently Art. 14 would have
no application. [466 E] B
( 5) Even if there be one cl lS'i of $~rvice having several categories with
-., ' different attributes and incidents, such a category becomes a separate class by
itself and no difference or discrimination between such category and the general
members of the other class would amount to any discrimination or to denial of
equality of opportunity. [466 F-F]

(6) In order to judge whether a separate category has been carved out of
c
a class of service, the following circumstances have generally to be examined :-

(a) the nature, the mode and the manner of recruitment of a particular
category from the very start.

(b) the classifications of the particular category. D
(c) the terms and conditions of service of the members of the category;

(d) the nature and character of the posts and promotional avenues;

(e) the special attributes that the particular category possess which are not
to be found in other classes, and the like. [463 F-H, 464 A-Bl E
ft is however difficult to Jay down a rule of universal application but the
circumstances mentioned above may be taken to be illustrative guidelines for
determining the question. [464 B-C]

Kathi Raning Rawat v. The State of Saurashtra [1952] SCR 435, All India
Station Masters' and Assistunt Station Masters' Associatton and Ors. v, General F
Manager, Central Railways and Ors. [19601 2 SCR 311, The General Manager,
Southern Railway v. Rangachari [1962] 2 SCR 586, State of Punjab v. Joginder
Singh [1963] Supp. 2 SCR 169, Sham Sunder v. Uniun ofln.tia and Ors. [1969] 1
SCR 312, Western U.P. Electric Power and Supply Co. Ltd. v. State of U.P.
and Anr., [1969] 3 SCR 865 Ramesh Prasad Singh v. State of Bihar and Ors.,
[1978] 1 SCR 787 The State of Gujarat and Anr. v. Shri Ambica Mills Ltd. etc.
[1974] 3 SCR 760, Stale of Jammu and Kashmir v. Triloki Nath Khosa and Ors. G
(1974] 1 SCR 771 and United States v. James Griggs Raines, 4 L Ed 2d 524
referred to.

s. A comparison of the mode of recruitment, the classification, the promo-
tional avenues and other matters indicate that the AHs form an absolutely sepa-
rate category from AFPs in many respects having different service conditions. H
Finally, even though the AHs retire at the age of 35 (extendable to 45) they get
retiral benefits quite different from those available to the AFPs. [468 D-F]
442 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1982] I S.C.R.

A 6. Having regard to the various circumstances, incidents, service condi-
tions, promotional avenues, etc. of the AFPs the members of the cabin crew are
an entirely separate class governed by different set of rules regulations and condi-
tions of service. [471 B-C]

7. The declaration made by the Central Government by its notification
dated 15-6-79 is presumptive proof of service and other types of remuneration,
no discrimination has been made on the ground of sex only. (475 C]
B
8. What Article 15(1) and 16(2) lay down is that discrimination shoula not
be made only and only on the ground of sex. These Articles do not prohibit ,Y
the State from making discrimination on the ground of sex coupled with other
considerations. [475 DJ

Yusuf Abdul Aziz v. The State of Bombay and Husseinbhoy Laljee (1954)
c SCR 930, Miss C.B. Muthamma v U.0.1. and Ors. [1979] 4 SCC 260 referred
to.

9. The argument on behalf of the AHs that the conditions of service with
regard to retirement, etc. amount to discrin1ination on the ground of sex only is
overruled. The conditions of service indicated are not violative of Art. 16.
[476 B-C]
D
10. There is no unreasonableness or arbitrariness in the provisions of the
Regulations which necegsitate that AHs should not marry within four years of
the service failing which their services will have to be terminated. [480G-H,48lA]

11. Having taken the AH in service and after having utilised her services
for four years: to terminate her service by the Management if she becomes preg-
E nant amounts to compelling the poor AH not to have any children and thus inter-
fere with and divert the ordinary course of human nature. The termination of
the services of an AH under such circumstances is not only a callous and cruel
act but an open insult to Indian womanhood the most scarosanct and cherished
institution. Such a course of action is extremely detestable and abhorrent to

F
the notions of a civilised society. Apart from being grossly unethical, it smacks
of a deep rooted sense of utter selfishness at the cost of all human values. Such
a provision is not only manifestly unreasonable and arbitrary but contains the
quality of unfairness and exhibits naked depotism and is clearly violative of
-
G
Art.14. [481 G-H,482 A·C]

J 3. The rule could be suitably a1nended so as to terminate the services of
an AH on third pregnancy provided two children are alive which would be both
.'
salutary and reasonable for two reasons. In the first place, the provision preven-
ting third pregnancy with two existing children would be in the larger interest of
the health of the AH concerned as also for the good upbringing of the children.
Secondly it will not only be desirable but absolutely essential for every country
to see that the family planning programme is not only whipped up but maintai-
ned at sufficient levels. [491 C-F]

H General Electric Company Ma· tha v. Gilbbert, 50 L. Ed. 2d 343, State of
West Bengal v. Anwar Ali Sarkar [1952] SCR 284, A.S. Krishna v. State of Madras
[1957] SCR 399, Cleve/ and Board of Educatian v. Ja Cara/ La Fleur 39 L Ed 2d
AIR INDIA V. NERGESH MEERZA 443

'. 52, Sharron A. Frontiero v. Elliot L. Richard~on, "36. E Ed 2d 583; Mary Ann
.Turner v. ·»epartment of Employment Security,, .46 1r
Ed 2d 1&1> City of Los
'An8leS Department of Water and Power v. Mary Manhart, -s5L Ed ..2d .657,
BombOY ·Labour .Unioh Representing the workmen uf M/s. lirternational Frcinchises
Pvt.Ltd. v.lnternational Ftanchi$es Pvt. Lid. [1966] 2 SCR 493, M/s. Dwarka
Prasad Laxmi Narain v. The State of Uttar Pradesh and Ors. [1954] SCR 803
& Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India [1978] 2 SCR 621 referred to.
B
13. -W~ether the Woman after beating. children Would cOntl'~ue .in Service or
would find it difficult to look. ~a:rrer, "the chikh:eri: is .her -personal matter and a
problem which affects the AH concerned and the Corporation has nothing to
do with the same. These -are circumstanpe~ _-which_ happen in the normal course
of business and cannot be helped. Jn these circumstances, the reasons given for
imposi.ng the· bar a1e neither.logical nor convincing. [489 C-E]
c
14. The factors to be c~nsid.erecJ- ~ust be rel~vant a~d becir a'c.lose nexus
to the nature of the organisation and the duties of the e1nployees. Where the
authority concetned. t8.kes into account factors or circumstarices Which are inhe-
rently irrational or illogical or tainted, the decision· fixing thC age·of retirement
is open to serious scrutiny. [492 E-F]
D
15, ·In the present times With advancing mechanical technology it' may riot
be very correct to say that a woman loses her normal faculties or that her
efficiency is impaired at the age of 35, 40 or 45 years. It is difficult to generalise a
proposition like this which will have to vary from. individual to individual. On
the other hand, there may be cases where an AFP may be of so weak and un-
'healthly a coilstitutlon that he may not be able to function upto the age of 58
which is the age of retirement of AFP according to the Regulation. ·The distinc- E
··•' tion regarding the age of retirement made by Regulation between AGs and AFPs
cannot be said to be discriminatory because AHs have been held to be a sepa-
rate class. [ 495 B-E]

- 16. The fixation of the age Of retirement of AHs who f3.Ji witliir. a speCial
class depends on various factors which have to be taken into consideration by
employers. (496 F] F
In the instant case, the Corporations have'· placed good -materi'al to show
some justification for keeping the age of retirement at 35 years (extend8.ble upto
45 years) but the regulation seems to arm the Managing Director with uncanali-
sed and unguided discretion to extend the age of AHs at this option which
app~<\.r.s to suffer from the vice of excessive delegation of powers. A discretio-
nary power may not necessarily be a discriminatory power but where a ~tatute G
confers a power on an authority to decide matters of moment without laying
down any guidelines or principles or norms the power has to be struck down as
being violative of Art. (496 G-H, 497 A]

Lala Hari Chand Sard v. Mizo District Council and Anr. [1967] 1 SCR 1012 ff
and State of Mysore v. S.R. Jayaram [1968] I SCR 349 referred to •.
444 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1982) l S.C.k

A ORIGINAL JURISDICTION ; Transferred Case No. 3 of 1981

Arising out of Transfer Petition No. 313 of 1980, Petition
under Article 139A(l) of the Constitution of India for withdrawal to
this Court of Writ Petition No. 1186 of 1980 pending in the Bombay
High Court at Bombay.
B WITH
Writ Petitions Nos. 3045, 1107, 2458 & 1624 23/1981.
(Under Article 32 of the Constitution.) •
,Y

IN TRANSFERRED CASE NO. 3/81
c Atul M. Setalvad, R. K. Kulkarni, D.B. Shroff, P. H. Parekh
and R.N. Karanajawala for the Petitioners.

F.S. Nariman, T.R. Andhyarujina, S.K. Wadia, O.C. Mathur and
Shri Narayan for Respondent No. I.

D F.D. Damania, B.R. Agrawala, H.D. Patil and Miss Halida
Khatun for Respondent No. 3, B. Datta and R.K. Kapur fo1~
Respondent No. 4.

JN WP. NO. 3045/80

E
D.P. Singh and L.R. Singh for the Petitioners, 0. C. Mathur
and Shri Narain for Respondent No. 1.

IN W.P. NO. 1!07/80
,.-
Niranjan Alva and Narayan Nettar for the Petitioner, G.B. Pai,
O.C. Mathur and Shri Narain for Respondent No. l and G.S. Vaidya-
nathan for intervener. •
F
IN W.P. No. 2458 of 1980
Margaret Alva and L. R. Singh for the Petitioner, P.R. Mridul
O.C. Mathur and Shri Narain for Respondent No. I. ' -
JN W.P. NO. 1624-28 of 1981
G S. Venkiteswaran and R.S. Sodhi for the Petitioner, O.C. Mathur
and Shri Narain for Respondent No. !.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

H FAZAL ALI, J. Transferred Case No. 3 of 1981 and the writ
petitions filed by the petitioners raise common constitutional and
legal questions and we propose to decide all these cases by one
AIR INDIA v. NERGESH MEERZA (Paza/ Ali, J.) 445

common judgment. So far as Transferred Case No. 3/81 is c0ncer- A
ned, it arises out of writ petition No. 1186/1980 filed by Nergesh
Meerza & Ors. Respondent No. I (Air India) moved this Court for
transfer of the writ petition filed by the petitioners, Nergesh Meerza
& Ors in the Bombay High Court to this Court because the consti·
tutional validity of Regulation 46(1) (c) of Air India Employees
Service Regulations (hereinafter referred to as •A.I. Regulations') B
and other questions of law were involved. Another ground taken by
the applicant-Air India in the transfer petition was that other writ
petitions filed by the Air Hostesses employed by the Indian Airlines
Corporation (hereinafter referred to as "LA.C.") which were
pending hearing in this Court involved almost identical reliefs.
After hearing the transfer petition this Court by its Order dated c
21.1.81 allowed the petition and directed that the transfer petition
arising out of writ petition No. 1186/80 pending before the Bombay
High Court be transferred to this Court. By a later Order dated
23.3.1981 this Court directed that the Transferred case may he
heard alongwith other writ petitions. Hence, all these matters have
been placed before us for hearing. For the purpose of brevity, the D
various petitions, orders, rules, etc. shall be referred to as
follows:-

(I) Air India as "A.I.'"

.. ' (2) Indian Airlines Corporation as "I.A.C." E

(3) Statutory regulations made under the Air India Corpo·
ration Act of 1953 or the Indian Airlines Corporation

- Act of 1953 would be referred to as 'A.I. Regulation'
and '1.A.C. Regulation' respectively.

(4) Nergesh Meerza & Ors. as 'petitioners'.
F

(5) Declaration by the Central Government under Equal
Remuneration Act as "Declaration" and Equal Remu-
neration Act 1976 as '1976 Act'. G
(6) Air Corporation Act of 1953as'1953 Act.'

(7) Justice Khosla Award as 'Khosla Award' and Justice
Mahesh Chandra Award as 'Mahesh Award'. H
(8) Assistant Flight Pursers as 'AFPs'
446 SUPREME ·coul(T. REp(jRTS · [1982] I S,C.R.

(9) Air Hbstess as'A.H;' and.AirHostessess a 'AHs' .
•.;
(JO) Air India Cabin Crew as 'A.I: Crew' and Indian Airlinei
Corporation Cabin Crew as 'IAC Crew'

(11) Flight Steward as "F.S."
B
Before. dealing with the facts of the case and the central cons-
titutional controversies and substantial points of law involved in ·
these petitions, it may be necessary to give a brief survey of the
history which laid. to the formation of the two Corporations; viz.,
A.I. and I.A.C.
c
By virtue ofs. 3 of the 1953 Act,. the Central Government by
a notification published in the official· Gazette created two Corpora'
tions known as Indian Airlines and Air India International. Section
3(2) provided that each of the two Corporations Would be a body ·
corporate having perpetual succession and a ;common seal subject to
the. provisions of the Act to acquire and hold property. Section 4
of the '1953·Aet provides' for the constitution of the Corporations
and section 5 deals with the conditions of service of the Chairman
and other Directors of the Corporations. Section 7 defines the
various functions of the Corporations. Further details regarding
the provisions of s. 7 would be dealt with later wherever necessary.
E Section 8 deals with the,· appointment of the officers. and other
employees of the Corporations. Sections IO to 15 deal with finance,
accounts and audit. Section· 34 defines ·the control which· the Central
Government may exercise over the performance by the Corporation

F
of its functions. The other provisions of the l 953 Act are not
germane for the purpose of this case. -
It is manifest therefore from a perusal of the various provi-
sions of the 1953 Act that A. I. and I. A. C. were established as a
single entity which was divided into two units in view of the nature
of the duties that each Corporatiol) had to perform. We have men-
. '
tioned this fact particularly because one of the contentions of Mr.
G Nariman, counsel for A.I., was that A.I. itself was a separate and
distinct entity and could not be equated with I.A.C. The provisions
of the Act completely nullify this argument and clearly show that
the two Corporations formed one single unit to be controlled by the
Central Government under the 1953 Act. It may be that the two
H
Corporations may have different functions to perform-A.I. operat-
ing international flights and the other (IAC) operating domestic
Alll°INDIA V. NERGESH MEE&ZA (Et!:fq/ A/i, J.) 447:·

flight~ within the' country. This la6t alone,· ho\Vever,'' woul<f noi
A;.
make the two Corporations· absolutely separate entitles: . The two
Corporations were part of the same organisation set up by the 1953
Act: · This fact is fortified ·by subsequent events' such as when dis-
putes arose between the employees of the two Corporations, the :
dispute with resp~ct to A.I. was referred to Justice Khosla and for"
B .,'
med. the ·basis of the Khosla Award: : Similarly, dispute between the':
I.A.C~ aildits ~mployees was referred to Justice Mahesh Chandra ·
where A.I. filed an application on behalf of the Air Corporatien
Employees Union (ACEU). The aforesaid Union represented hoth
the A.I. and I.A.c. A prayer of the ACEU was allowed by the
• Tribu.nal hy its order .dated 1:3.1971 (vide p. 1191 of the Gazette of
India~Sec. 3(ii) dated 25.3. 72) for being imp leaded as a party to the
c
Reference. As a result· of the allowing of the application o! the
ACEU the scope of the Reference was widened to include the
demands of I.AC. & A.I. This, therefore; cleady shows that the
two Corporations formed one single entity and whenever any dispute
arose they tried to get the dispute settled by a common agency.
Thus, the. two Corporations before the Industrial Tribnnals did not
take any stand that th~y · were different entiti~s having two se?arate
individualities. The initiaI argument of Mr. Nariman on this point
is, therefore, overruled at the threshold. In fact, Mr. Nariman
having indicated the point did not choose to pursue it fur-
.. ther because the sheetanchor of his argument was that so
far as AHs in the two Organisations are concerned they consti-
E
tute a sex-baseilrecruitment and, therefore, a completely separate
and different category from the class of AFPs, in that, theh' service
conditions, !lie mode of recruitment, the emoluments, the age of
retirement of these two classes wer.e quite different and, therefore,
the question of the applicability of Art. 14 did not arise. We may
F
have to dilate on this part of the argument a little later when we
exaibine the respective contentions advanced before us by the coun-
'<.
sel for the parties~ At the moment, we would like first to complete
r '
the histbry of the Circumstances leading to the present controversy
between the parties. It appears that there was a good deal of dis-
parity between ,the· pay-scales and the promotional avenues ,of the
G
male cabin crew consisting of AFPs, FPs and In-flight pursers on
the one hand and the AHs, Check AH, Deputy Chief AH, Addi.
Chief AH and Chief AH on the other. The case of the AHs
was sponsored by the ACEU which made a demand for alteration
of the service regulations prejudicial to AHs. This was some time
H
prior to 1964. The said dispute was ultimately referred to a Natio-
nal Industrial Tribunal presicled over by Mr. Justice G.D. Khosla
448 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1982) I s.c.R.

A who gave his award on 28. 7.1965 making some recommendations in
order to improve the service conditions of AHs.

In fact, the main issue canvassed before the Kbosla Tribunal
centred round the question of the age of retirement of the AHs and
matters connected therewith. A perusal of the Khosla Award
B shows that the parties entered into a settlement with respect to all
other disputes excepting the retirement benefits on which the Tribu-
nal had to give its award. In para 252 of the Award the dispute
regarding the retirement age is mentioned thus :

"252. At present, the retirement age of the Air India
c employees is governed by Service Regulations Nos. 46 and
47. Service Regulation No. 46 is as follows :

46. Retirement Age :

D
(C) An Air Hostess, upon attaining the age of 30 years or
on marriage, whichever occurs earlier.

E 253. Regulation No. 47 provides for a further exten- ,
sion of the employee beyond the age of retirement for an
aggregate period not exceeding two years except in the
case of Air Hostesses where the services can be extended
upto a period of 5 years. The extension is granted on the
employee being fouud medically fit."
F
Thus, according to the , Regulations prevalent in A.I. an AH
had to retire at the age of 30 or on marriage whichever was earlier ...,.•
subject to an extension being granted for a period of 5 years if
the employee was found to be medically fit. While considering this
demand, the Tribunal seems to have upheld the view of the
G Corporation and found no reason to interfere with Regulation
Nos. 46 and 47. In this connection, the Tribunal observed as
follows:-

"In my view, no case has been made out for rai,sing
H
the age of retirement and in cases where the efficiency of
the employee is not impaired, there is suitable provision
AIR INDIA v. NERGESH MEERZA (Fazal Ali, J.) 449

under regulation 47 for extending his service upto the age A
of 60. As observed above, there have been no complaints
of any employee being made to retire under the provision
of clause (ii) of regulation 46."

Giving the reasons for its conclusion the Award in Para 256
B
runs thus:-

"With regard to air hostesses, the contention of the
Management is that they are in a special class. They have
to deal with passengers of various temperaments, and a
young and attractive air hostess. is able to cope with diffi-
cult or awkward situations more competently and more
c
easily than an older person with less personal preposses-
sions. On this point there can be no two opinions. It
was also pointed out that air hostesses do not stay very
long in the service of Air India, and young and attractive
women are more inclined to look upon service in Air India
as a temporary occupation than as a career. Most of them
D
get married and leave the service. Counsel for the Cor-
poration placed before me a table (Exhibit M 14) which
shows that the average service of an air hostess for the
5 years between 1960 and 1965 was only two years. Only
2 air hostesses reached the age of 30. None was retired at
the age of 30 and in all, 70 air hostesses resigned before
E
reaching the age of retirement. The total number of air
hostesses at present is 87 and, therefore, it will at once be
seen that most of them chose to leave service of their own
free will."
F
It would thus be seen that one of the dominant factors which
weighed with the Tribunal was that there were only 87 AHs out of
"'. whom quite a large number retired even before reaching the age of
' 30 years. The Tribunal was also impressed by the argument of the
Corporation that AH had to deal with passengers· of various tempe-
raments and a young attractive AH was more suitable for doing the
G
job. With due respect to Justice Khosla we may not agree with
some of the reasons he had given, but the position bas now comp-
letely changed as more than 15 years have passed and at present AI
employs as many as 737 AHs. However, the matter rested there
and the AHs seem to have lost their first battle before the Khosla
Tribunal.
H
450 SUPREME COURT REPORTS .. . {1982] I S.C.R.

A ,Thereafter, it appears the same dispute arose between the
employees of I.A.C. which, as. indicated . above, had to be referred
to anotherTribunal, viz. Mahesb. Tribunal; before w)lom a part of
the dispute between several workmen was settled but the dispute
which was not settled including the question of the age of retire-
.men! of AHs was referred to this Tribunal some time in November
B 1970 and the Award was given 'on 25th February 1972. · Before this
Tribunal also, the stand taken by the ACEU was that the age of
retirement of AH should be .fixed at 45 instead of 30 or 35 and the
bar of marriage should be removed. The A.I., however, stuck to
its •original stand that having regard to. the strenuous work to be
put in by an AH, the age of retirement should be ·kept at 30. In
C this conneciion, the Mahesh Tribunal indicated the . stand of the
parties ·thus :- .

"The ACEU contends that age of retirement of air
hostesses should be fixed at 45 instead of 30 or 35 as at
present; that this demand for increase in the age of retire-
'D ment is in accordance with Geneva Convention and that
the bar of marriage on air hostesses should be removed .

. The Air India's contention is that the nature and
underlying object of the job of an air hostess requires that
their age of retirement should be kept at 30 as at present.
E It has also been pointed out that after 30, the General
Manager of the Corporation has the discretion to extend
the age of retirement of an air hostess by one year at a
time till sh'e reaches the age of. 40 years. As for the retire-
ment on Marriage, the Air lndia's contention is that it is
necessary and a desirable provision as otherwise after
marriage they will not be able to fulfil adequately the main
purpose of their employment.
•

The rule regarding extension of service in the Settle-
ment between the ACEU and the Indian Airlines of Janu-
G ary 10, 1972 is better worded and it should be adopted by
the Air India also in its entirety."

This appears to he the position upto the year 1972. Subsequent
events, however, show that both A.I. and I.A.C. later realised that
H the Rules regarding the age of retirement and termination of AHs
AIR INDIA v. NERGESH MEERZA (Fazal Ali, J.) 451

work serious injustice and made several amendments. We would A
first take up the various amendments made by the l.A.C.

The previous regulation regarding the retirement age of I.A.C.
AH was regulation No. 12 which may be extracted thus :-
8
"Flying Crew shall be retained in the service of the
Corporation only for so long as they remain medically fit
for flying duties ...... Further, an Air hostess shall r~tire
from the service of Corporation on her attaining the age
of 30 years or when she gets married whichever is earlier.
An unmarried Air Hostess may, however, in the interest of
•
the Corporation be retained in the service of the Corpora-
c
tion upto the age of 35 years with the approval of the
General Manager."

(Vide counter-affidavit of Wing Commander N.C.
Bharma)
D
This regulation was further amended on 13.7.68 which ran
thus:

"An Airhostess shall retire from the service of the
Corporation on her attaining the age of 30 years or when
she gets married, whichever is earlier. The General E
Manager, may, however, retain in service an unmarried
Air Hostess upto the age of 35 years."

Then followed the Settlement dated 10.1.1972 between the
I.A.C. and ACEU under which AH was to retire at the age of 30 or
F
on marriage. The General Manager, however, could retain an un-
married AH in service upto the age of 40 years. Thus, the only
difference that the Settlement made was that the discretion to extend
the age of retirement of AH was increased by 5 years, i.e. from
35 years to 40 years. Ultimately, however, the old Regulation
underwent a further change and by virtue of a Notification published
G
in the Gazette of Jnria on I2.4.1980 in Part Ill, Section 4, para 3
of the amended regulation 12 was further amended thus:

"An Air Hostess shall retire from services of the Cor-
poration upon attaining the age of 35 years or on marriage H
if it takes place within four years of service or on first
pregnancy, whichever occurs earlier."
452 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1982] I S.C.R.

A This amendment seems to have made a slight improvement in the
condition of service of AHs inasmuch as the age of retirement was
fixed at 35 years and the bar of marriage was restricted only to a
period of four years, that is to say, if an AH did not marry within
a period of 4 years of her entry into service, she could retire at
the age of 35. This amendment was not in supersession of but
B but supplemental to the ACEU Settlement dated 10.1.1972. In
other words, the position was that an AH if she did not marry
within 4 years, could go upto 35 years extendable to 40 years, if
found medically fit. This was the historical position so far as the
retirement age of AHs working with IAC is concerned. As regards
AHs employed by AI the latest position is to be found in Regula-
•
c tions 46 and 47, the relevant portions of which may be extracted
thus :-

"46. Retiring Age :

Subject to the provisions of sub-regulation (ii) hereof
an employee shall retire from the service of the Corporation
D
upon attaining the age of 58 years, except in the following
cases when he/she shall retire earlier :

(c) An Air Hostess, upon attaining the age of 35 years or
on marriage if it takes place within four years of
service or on first pregnancy, whichever occurs earlier.
E

47. Extension of Service.

Notwithstanding anything contained in Regulation 46,
F the services of any employee, may, at the option of the
Managing Director but on the employee being found medi-
cally fit, be extended by one year at a time beyond the age
of retirement for an aggregate period not exceeding two
years, except in the case of Air Hostesses and Recep-
tionists where the period will be ten years and five years
G respectively."
Thus, an AH under A.I. was retired from service in the
following contingencies :

(I) on attaining the age of 35 years ;
H (2) on marriage if it took place within 4 years of the
service, and
AIR INDIA v. NERGESH MEERZA (Fazal Ali, J.) 453

(3) on first pregnancy. A
The age of retirement of AH could be extended upto ten
years by granting yearly extensions at the option of the Managing
Director. Thus, if the Managing Director chose to exercise his
discretion under Regulation 47 an AH could retire at the age of
45 years. B
Thus, the only difference regarding the service conditions
pertaining to the age of retirement or termination is that whereas
the services of an I.A.C. AH could be extended upto 40 years, those

- of the A.l. AH could be exetended upto 45 years, subject to the
conditions indicated above. This appears to be the position
regarding the service conditions of the AHs belonging to both the
c
Corporations which form the cornerstone of their grievances
before us.

Having given a brief history of the dispute between the parties
we would now indicate the contentions advanced before us by the D
petitioners (AHs) and the counsel for the Corporations and other
respondents. As the service conditions of AHs employed by the
two Corporations are almost identical the arguments put forward by
them also are almost the same with slight variations which will be

-. indicated by us when we deal with the arguments.

Mr. Atul Setalvad appearing for the AHs in Transfer case
No. 3 of 1981 has submitted some important and intertesting points
of law which may to summarised as follows :-
E

(l) The AHs employed by one Corporation or the other
form the same class of service as the AFPs and other
members of the cabin crew. Both the male pursers
F
and the AHs are members of the same cabin crew, per·

.' forming identical or similar duties and hence any
discrimination made between these two members who
are similarly circumstanced is clearly violative of Art.
14 of the Constitution of India.
G
(2) Even if the AHs are a separate category or class, there
is an inter se discrimination between the AHs posted in
the United Kingdom and those serving in the other Air
India flights.
H
(3) That the AHs have been particularly selected for
hostile discrimination by the Corporation mainly on
454 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1982] 1 S.C.R.

A the ground of sex or disabilities arising from sex and
therefore. the regulations amount to a clear infraction
of the provisions of Art. 15 (1) and Art. 16 of the
Constitution of India.
(4) The termination of the services of AHs on the ground
pregnancy or marriage within four years is manifestly
B
unreasonable and wholy arbitrary and violative of
Art. 14 of the Constitution and should, therefore, be
struck down.

-
(5) The contention that a woman in view of strenuous
work that she is called upon to perform, becomes tired
c or incapable of doing the work of catering to the
passengers is based on pure speculation and being
against the well established facts and norms set up by
the Geneva Convention is clearly inconsistent with the
concept of emancipation of women. No material has
been place.d before the Court to prove that the efficiency
D of the AHs is in any way impaired at the age of 40 or
45 years so as to make a gross discrimination between
the male pursers and AHs.

(6) Apart from the discrimination regarding the age of
retirement, the AHs have been complerely deprived of
promotional opportunities available to the male mem-
bers of the cabin crew. ' -
For the aforesaid reasons, it was contended that regulations
46 and 47 of Air-India Employees Service Regulations and
Regulation No. 12 of the Indian Airlines (Flying Crew) Service
F Regulations must be struck down as being discriminatory and ultra
vires.
.
The counsel appearing for the petitioners in the writ petitions , ,
more or less adopted the arguments of Mr. Atul Setalvad in one
form or the other.
G
Jn answer to the contentions raised by Mr. Setalvad and the
counsel who followed him, Mr. Nariman appearing for A.I. and
Mr. G.B. Pai for the LA.C., adumbrated the follo.ving pro-
positions : -
H
(1) That having regard to the nature of job functions, the
mode of recruitment of AHs, their qualifications,
AIR INDIA v. NERGESH MEERZA (Fazal, Ali.J.) 455

their promotional avennes and the circumstances in A
which they retire AHs fall within a category separate
from the class to which the pursers belong and if AHs
from a separate class or category by themselves, then
there can be no question of discrimination or contra-
vention 0f Art. 14 which would apply if there is
discrimination between the members of the same class B
inter se.

(2) The recruitment of the AHs is actually sex based
recruitment made not merely on the ground of sex
alone but swayed by a lot of other considerations:
hence Art. 15 (2) of the Constitution was not attracted. c
To buttress this argument reliance was placed by
Mr. Nariman on the Declaration made by the ·Govern-
ment under the 1976 Act.

(3) As the conditions mentioned in Regulation 46 of A.I.
Regulations and 12 of the IAC Regulations have been D
upheld by the Khosla and Mahesh Awards, they have
statutory force and unless they are per se arbitrary or
discriminatory, the court ought not to interfere with
them particularly when those two Awards are binding

- '
on the parties even though their p~riod may have
expired.

(4) Having regard to the circumstances prevailing in India
E

and the effects of marriage, the bar of pregnancy and
marriage is undoubtedly a reasonable restriction placed
in public interest.

(5) If the bar of marriage or pregnancy is removed, it will
F
lead to huge practical difficulties as a result of which
very heavy expenditure would have to be incurred by
> ' the Corporations to make arrangements for substitutes
of the working AHs during _their absence for a long
period necessitated by pregnancy or domestic needs
G
resulting from marriage.

(6) The court should take into consideration the practical
aspects of the matter which demonstrate the fact that
a large number of AHs do not stick to the service but
leave the same well before the age of retirement fixed H
under the Regulation.
456 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1982] I S.C.R.

A Finally, as a very fair and conscientious counsel Mr. Nariman
placed a few proposals which might mitigate the inconvenience'
caused to the AHs and remove a large bulk of. their grievances. It
was submitted by Mr. Nariman that he would in all probability
persuade the management to aceept the proposals submitted by him
which will be referred to when we deal with the contentions of
B the parties at length.

We shall now proceed to deal With the respective contentions /
advanced before us indicating the reply of the respondents to the
arguments raised by the petitioners.

c It was vehemently argued by Mr. Setalvad that having regard
to the nature of the duties and functions performed during the
flight by AFPs and AHs both the groups constitute the same class
or category of service under the Corporation and hence any diffe-
rence or discrimination between the members in the same class is
clearly violative of Art. 14 of the Constitution. A second limb of the
D argument which flows from the first contention was that the AHs were
selected for hostile discrimination by the Corporation in the
matter of retirement. termination and promotional avenues which
was manifestly unreasonable so as to attract Art. 14 of the Con-
stitution.
E The counsel for the Corporation, however, countered the
arguments of the petitioners on two grounds :- -
(I) That in view of the mode of recruitment, qualifica-
tions, retiral benefits and various other factors the AHs
constitute a special category or class of employees
F different from the AFPs and, therefore, they could not
be in any way equated with them.

(2) That in fact the recruitment of AHs was sex-based and
swayed by a number of other considerations and not
based on sex only.
G
fn order to appreciate the arguments of the parties on this
point it may be necessary to refer to the law on the subject which
is now well settled by a long course of decisions of this Court. It is
undisputed that what Art. 14 prohibits is hostite discrimination and
H not reasonable classification. fn other words, if equals and un-
equals are differently treated, no discrimination at all occurs so as
to amount to an infraction of Art. 14 of the Constitution.I A fortiori
AIR INDIA v. NERGESH MEERZA (Fazal Ali' J.) 457

if equals or persons similarly circumstanced are differently treated, A
discrimination results so as to attarct the provisions of Art. 14.

Jn our opinion, therefore, the inescapable conclusion that
follows is that if there are two separate and different classes having
different conditions of service and different incidents, the question
of discrimination does not arise. On the other hand, if among the B
members of the same class, discriminatory treatment is meted out to
one against the other, Art. 14 is doubtless attracted.

In Kathi Raning Rawat v. The State of Saurashtra( 1) Sastri, C.J.
observed thus :

"Though the differing procedures might involve dis-
c
parity in the treatment of the persons tried under them,
such disparity is not by itself sufficient, in my opinion, to
outweigh the presumption and establish discrimination
unless the degree of disparity goes beyond what the reason
for its existence demands as, for instance, when it amounts D
to a denial of a fair and impartial trial."

Fazal Ali J. as he then was, pithily observed as follows :-

"I think that a distinction should be drawn between
'discrimination without reason' and 'discrimination with
reason'. The whole doctrine of classification is based on E
this distinction and on the well-known fact that the circum-
stances which govern one set of persons or objects may not
necessarily be the same as those governing another set of
persons or objects, so that the question of unequal treat-
ment does not really arise as between persons governed by
different conditions and different sets of circumstances."
F

Similar observations were made by Mukherjee, J. who remar-
ked thus :-

"The legislature is given the utmost latitude in making
the classification and it is only when there is a palpable G
abuse of power and the differences made have no rational
relation to the objectives of the legislation, that necessity of
judicial interference arises."

(I) [1952] SCR 435. H
458 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1982] l S.C.R

A The most apposite decision on the subject is the case of All
India Station Master's & Assistant S1ation Master's Association & Ors.
~v~GeneraltManag1r,: Cemral Raii"ay' & Ors.(') \\here the Jaw on
the subject was succinctly stated by Das Gupta, J. who speaking for
the Court as follows :-

B "So multifarious are the activities of the State that
employment of men for the purpose of these activities has
by the very nature of things to be in different departments
of the State and inside each department, in many different
classes. For each such class there are separate rules
fixing the number of personnel of each class, posts to which
c the men in that class will be appointed, questions of
seniority, pay of different posts, the manner in which
promotion will be effected from the lower grades of pay i
to the higher grades, e.g., whether on the result of periodi- '
cal examination or by seniority, or by selection or on some
D other basis and other cognate matters. Each such class
can be reasonably considered to be a separate and in many
matters independent entity with its own rules of recruit-
ment, pay and prospects and other conditions of service
which may vary considerably between one class and
another.
E

'
It is clear that as between the members of the same
class the question whether conditions of service are the
same or not may well arise. If they are not, the question
F of denial of equal opportunity will require serious
consideration in such cases. Does the concept of equal
opportunity in matters of employment apply, however, to
variations in provisions as between memhers of different
classes of employees under the State? In our opinion,
the answer must be in the negative."

G The same view was reiterated by another decision of this
Court in The General Manager, Southern Railway v. Rangachari('~
where Gajendragadkar, J. pointed out thus :

(1) (1960] 2 S.C.R. 311.
H (2) [1962] 2 S.C.R. 586.
AIR INDIA v. NERGESH MEERZA (Faza/ Ali, J.) 459

"Would it. for instance, be open to the State to pTfsoibe A
different scales of salary for the same or similar posts, dijje-
rent terms of leave or 11uperannuation fo1 the same or similar
post 1 On the narrow construction of Art. 16(1) even if
such a discriminatory courses are adopted by the State in
respect of its employees that would not be violative of
the equality of opportunity guaranteed by Art. 16(1). B
Such a result could not obviously have been intended by
the Constitution ......... The three provisions form part of
the same constitutional code of guarantees and supplement
each other.

If that be so, there would be no difficulty in holding c
l.'..
,; ~
that the matters relating to employment must include all
matters in relation to employment both prior, and subse-
quent, to the employment which are incidental to the
employment and form part of the terms and conditions of
such employment.
D

It is common ground that Art. 16(4) does not cover
the entire field covered by Art. 16(1) and (2). Some of
the matters relating to employment in respect of which
equality of opportunity has been guaranteed by Art. 16(1) E
and (2) do not fall within the mischief of non-obstante
clau;e in Art. 16(4)."

(Emphasis ours)

In State of Punjab v. Joginder Singh('), Ayyangar, J while F
delivering the majority judgment clearly elucidated the various
spheres where Art. 14 could operate and observed thus:-
.- ' "As we have stated already, the two Services started
as independent services. The qualifications prescribed for
entry into each were different, the method of recruitment and
the machinery for the same were also different and the general
G
qualifications possessed by and large by the members of each
class being different, they started as two distinct classes.
If the government order of September 27, 1957, did not
integrate them into a single service, it would follow that
H
(!) [1963] Supp. 2 SCR 169.
460 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1982] I s.c.R.
1~

A
the two remained as they started as two distinct services.
-
If they were distinct services. there was na question of inter
se seniority between members of the two s<rvices, nor of any
comparison between the two in the matter of promotion for
founding an argument based upon Art. 14 or Art. 16(1). They
B started dissimilarly and they continued dissimilarly and any
{/fssin11'/arity in their trealment would not be a denial o.f equul
opportunity.for ii is common ground that withii1 each group
there is no denial of that freedom guaranteed by the two
Articles. The foundation therefore, of the judgment of
the learned Judges of the High Court that the impugned
c rules created two classes out of what was formerly a single
class and introduced elements of discrimination between
the two, has no factual basis if, as we hold, the order of
September 27, 1957, did not effectuate a complete integra-
tion of the two Services. On this view it would follow
that the impugned rules cannot be struck down as violative
D of the constitution." ·

(Emphasis supplied)

The same dictum was followed l\y this Court in a later case-
Sham Sundu· v. Union of India and Ors.( 1)-where it was pointed out

E
that Art. 16(1) would be attracted onlv if there is a breach of equa- ,_ ·~
lity between members of the same class of employees and Art. 14
did not contemplate equality between members of separate or inde-
pendent classes. In this connection Bachawat, J. held thus :

"For purposes of promotion, all the enquiry-cum-
reservation clerks on the Northern Railway form one sepa-
F rate unit. Between members of this class there is no dis-
crimination and no denial of equal opportunity in the ,~

matter of promotion ............... Equality of opportunity in , -·
matters of employment under Art. 16(1) means equality as
between members of the same class of employees and not
equality between members of separate, independent
G classes."

.The same principle was reiterated by this Court in Western U.P.
Electric Power and Supply Co. Ltd. v. State of U.P. and Anr.(2 )
where Shah, J. observed thus :
H
(1) [t969] I SCR 312.
(2) [ 1969] 3 SCR 865.
AIR INDIA v. NERGESH MEERZA (Pazal Ali, J.) 461

"Article 14 of the Constitution ensures equality among A
equals; its aim is to protect persons similarly placed against
discriminatory treatment. It does not however operate
against rational classification. A person selling up a grie-
vance of denial of equal treatment by law must establish
that between persons similarly circumstanced, some were
treated to their prejudice and the differential treatment had B
no reasonable relation to the object sought to be achieved
by the law."

Jn a recent decision of this Court in Ramesh Prasad Singh v.
State of Bihar and Ors. (1 ) to which one of us (Fazal Ali, J.) was a
party, the same principle was reiterated thus:- c
"Equality is for equals, that is to say, those who are
similarly circumstanced are entitled to an equal treatment
but the guarantee enshrined in Articles 14 and 16 of the
Constitution cannot be carried beyond the point which is
well settled by a cat en a o I decisions of the Court."
D
Similarly, in The State of Gujarat and Anr. v. 5hri Ambica
Mills Ltd. etc., (2) Mathew, J. speaking for the Court pointed out
that classification is inherent in legislation and expounding the con-
cept of equality contained in Art. 14 observed thus :-

"It may be remembered that article I 4 does not require E
that every regulatory statute apply to all in the same busi-
ness ; where size is an index to the evil at which the law is
directed, discriminations between the large and small are
permissible, and it is also permissible for reform to take
one step at a time, addressing itself t9 the phase of the
problell) which seems most acute to the legislative mind." F.

''Classification is inherent in legislation. To recognize
' ' marked differences that exiH in fact is living.law: to disre-
gard practical differences and concentrate on some abstract
identities is lifeless logic." (Morey v. Doud U.S. 457, 472) G
In State of Jammu and Kashmir v. Triloki Nath Khosa
and Ors .. (3) it was clearly pointed out that equality is

(I) [t978] 1 SCR. 787.
(2) [1974] l SCR 771. H.
(3) [1974] 3 SCR 760.
462 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1982] I S.C.R,

A only for equals and e'len in cases of promotion Art. 14
would apply only if promotional facility is denied
to equals within the same class. In this connection,
Chandrachud, J. (as he then was) pithily observed
thus :-

B "But the concept of equality has an inherent limitation
arising fro1n the very nature of the constitutional guarantee.
Equality is for equals. That is to say that those who are
similarly circumstanced are entitled to an equal treatment.

Since the constitutional code of equality and equal
c opportunity is a charter for equals, equality of opportunity
in matters of promotion means an equal promotional
opportunity for persons who fall, substantially, within the
same class."

In United States v. James Griggs R'iines (') it was held
D that oc.e to whom application of statute is constitutional
cannot be heard to attack the statute on the ground that
impliedly if it applied to other persons it might be uncons-
titutional. These observations, in our opinion, furnish a
complete answer to the argument of the petitioners that
Article 14 is violated in the instant case.
E
Similar observations were made in Vol. 16 (PP. 236·237) of ' -
Corpus Juris Secundum which are extracted below :·

•·A person ordinarily is precluded from challenging
the constitutionality of governmental action by invoking
F the rights of others and it is not sufficient that the statute
or administrative regulation is unconstitutional as to other
persons or classes of persons; it must affirmatively appear
that the person attacking the statute comes within the class
of persons affected by it."
G
Thus, from a detailed analysis and close examination of the
cases of this Court starting from 1952 till today, the following
propositions emerge :-

(I) In considering the fundamental right of equality of
B opportunity a technical, pedantic or doctrinaire app-

(l) 4 L Ed 2d 524.
AIR INDIA V. NERGeSH MEERZA (Fazal Ali, J.) 463

roach should not be made and the doctrine should not A
-~
be invoked even if different scales of pay, service
terms, leave, etc., are intruduced in different or dissimi-
lar posts.

Thus, where the class or categories of service are
essentially different in purport and spirit, Art. 14 can- B
not be attracted.

(2) Art. 14 forbids hostile discrimination but not reason-
able classification. Thus, where persons belonging to

- a particular class in view of their special attributes,
qualities, mode of recruitment and the like, are diffe-
rently treated in public interest to advance and boost
members belonging to backward classes, such a classifi-
c
cation would not amount to discrimination having a
close nexus with the objects sought to be achieved so
that in such cases Art. 14 will be completely out of the D
way.

(3) Art. 14 certainly applie' where equals are treated
differently without any reasonable basis.

(4) Where equals and unequals are treated differently, E
Art. 14 would have no application.

(5) Even if there be one class of service having several cate-
gories with different attributes and incidents, such a
category becomes a separate class by itself and no
difference or discrimination between such category and F
the general members of the other class would amount
to any discrimination or to denial of equality of
opportunity.

-. ' ( 6) In order to judge whether a separate category has
been carved out of a class of service, the following G
circumstances have generally to be examined :-

(a) the nature, the mode and the manner of recruit-
ment of a particular category from the very
start,
H
(b) the classifications of the particular category.
464 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1982) I S.C.R.

A (c) the terms and conditions of service of the members
of the category,

(d) the nature and character of the posts and promo-
tional avenues,

B (e) the special attributes that the particular category
possess which are not to be found in other classes,
and the like.

It is difficult to Jay down a rule of universal application but

c
the circumstances mentioned above may be taken to be illustrative
guidelines for determining the question.

Applying these tests we now proceed to examine the correct-
ness of the first contention advanced by Mr. Atul Setalvad and
-
counsel for other petitioners and countered by the Corporations.

A very large number of affidavits and documents have been
D filed by the parties in support of their respective cases but in view
of the arguments of the parties, the matter falls, in our opinion,
within a very narrow compass and we shall refer only to those
affidavits and documents which are germane for deciding the case
on the basis of contentions advanced before us.

E In order to test whether the category of AHs constitutes the
same class as AFPS or is a separate category by itself, we shall ......
detail the materials placed before us by the parties · on this aspect
of the matter.. We shall first deal with the case of AHs employed
by A.I.

F To begin with, it is not disputed that at the initial recruit·
ment a classification for appointment of AH and AFP is essentially
different. For instance, while in the case of AFP the necessary

G
qualifications are as follows : -

.{I) sec or its equivalent
, -
(2) Minimum three years' training experience m any Air-
line or three years Diploma in Catering from a recog-
nised I.iistitute or a Graduate.
(3) There is no requirement that AFP should be un-
H married.
(4) The AFP has to appear for a written I.C. test.
AIR INDIA v. NERGESH MEERZA ( Faza/ Ali, J.) 465

As against these basic requirements for entry into service A
for the class known as 'AFP', the requirements for AHs are as
follows :-

(I) SCC or its equivalent

(2) AH must be unmarried B
(3) No other requirement is needed for entry into service
so far as AH is concerned.

Mr. Setalvad however, argued that both AHs and AFPs
being members of the same cabin crew must be taken to belong to
the same class. This argument fails to take into consideration the c
fact that if at the threshold the basic requirements of the two classes,
viz., AFP and AH, for entry into service are absolutely different
and poles apart even though both the classes may during the
flight work as cabin crew, they would not become one class of
service.
D
Secondly, while AFP starts with a grade of Rs. 385-535, the
. AH starts her career with the grade of Rs. 485-25-560-40-770. This
is also a very material difference which points to the AHs being a
separate category both in respect qualifications at the entry into
service and also in respect of starting salaries.
E
Another important distinction between AFPs and AHs is that
whereas the total number of posts in A.I. of AFPs are 494, in the
case of AHs is 737. Thus, to begin with, the two classes differ in
qualifications, in grades and also in the number of posts.

The matter does not rest there. Even the promotional avenues F
or channels of the two categories of service are quite different and
.' so is their seniority. So far as the AFPs are concerned, the hierar-
chy is as follows :-

(I) A.F.P.
G
(2) F.P. (Grade : Rs. 485-25-560-40-720-50-1020)

The total number of posts of FPs are 372. Thus, by and
large AH starts almost in the same grade as F.P. which is a higher
post than APP. The third higher category is Check F.P. which has H
the same emoluments as FPs with the difference that the Check
FPs get an additional allowance of Rs. 200/- p.m. and the number
'
466 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1982] 1 s.c.R.

A of posts are 61. The next promotional avenue is the post of In flight
Supervisor. The total posts are 69 and the Grade is Rs. 1100-50-
1600-60-1780-100-1880

No. of Grade
posts
B
(5) Dy. Mannger 8 1400-50-1600-60-1780- .,(
100-1880

(6) Manager 7 1720-60-1 780-100-2180

(7) Manager, Cabin 1880-100-2480 ~
c Crew

It is asserted by the A.I. that it takes about 15 to 20 years
for a F.P. to reach the promotional posts of Inf!ight Supervisor
and 25 years to reach the post of Dy. Manager. As against this,
the hierarchy of AH is as follows :-
D
No. of Grade
posts

I. AH 737

E 2. Check AH 72

3. Dy. Chief AH 3 1100-50-1600-60-1780-
100-1880

4. Addi. Chief AH 3 1400-50-1600-60-1780-
100-1980
F
5. Chief AH 1720-60-1780-100-2180 , .
It may be mentioned here that so far as the post of Dy.
Chief AH is concerned, by virtue of an agreement dated 30th May
G 1977 between the male members of the cabin crew it was decided
to phase them out. A serious exception has been taken against
the Corporation for having acceded to the demand for phasing out
a post belonging to the category of AHs and that too without taking
the consent of AHs. A serious protest on this account was lodged
H by the AHs which is to be found at page 166 of Vol. II of the
Paperbook, the relevant portion of which of may be extracted
thus :-
AIR )NOIA v. NERGESfl MEERZA(Pazal Ali, J.) 467

"We do not see 'how any Flight Purser or Assistant A
Flight Purser could suggest a viable proposal regarding our
promotion considering this matter is in direct relation to
Air Hostesses and their future.

In the past the Flight Pursers and the Assistant Flight
Pursers took away our promotional avenue to Deputy B
Chief Air Hostess without even consulting us.'"

At page 148 of Vol. II of the Paper Book, the affidavit
details the circumstances under which the post of Dy. Chief AH
was agreed ·to be phased out. In this connection, the following
extracts are relevant :- C
"The Association also went into the grades of different
categories of cabin crew and found that while the Deputy
Chief Air Hostesses functioned on board the flight only as
Check Air Hostesses and/or Air Hostess her grade was
much higher than that of a Flight Purser who was in a D
higher status or cadre and had supervisory responsibilities.
The management therefore was approached by the -'ssocia-
tion resulting in the said agreement of 30.5.1977 which is
already annexed hereto and marked Exhibit V above by
which the category of Deputy Chief Air Hostesses was
made redundant." E
We are also unable to understand how the Management
could phase out a post available to the AHs exclusively at the
instant of Pursers when they had absolutely no concern with this
particular post nor had the Pursers any right to persuade the
Management to abolish a post which was not meant for them. The F
AHs have rightly protested that the Agreement to phase out the
post was unilaterally taken hy the Management without even con-
' sulting the AHs although they were the only ones who were most
adversely affected by this decision. In para 25 of the Affidavit
at P. 58 of the same volume a statement is made regarding the
circumstances under which the post of Dy. Chief AH was phased G
out, which is extracted below :

"On May 30, 1977, as a result of discussiJns with the
Air-India Cabin Crew Association representing the flight
pursers, assistant flight pursers and air hostesses, it was H
decided that the category of Deputy Chief Air Hostess
would be phased out, i.e., as and when the then existing
468 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1982] I S.C.R.

A Deputy Chief Air Hostesses retired or resigned the conse-
quent vacancies would not be filled. At present the promo-
tional avenues for Air Hostesses are the post of Additional
Chief Air Hostess, Chief Air Hostess and Deputy Manager
Air Hostesses."

B Unfortunately, however, as the decision was taken as far back
as 1977 and no grievance was made by the AHs before the High
Court and as this is not a matter which is covered by Art. 32 of the
Constitution, we are unable to give any relief to the AHs on this
score. We would, however, like to observe that in view of the
limited promotional channels available to the AHs, the A.I. should
c seriously consider the desirability of restoring the post of Dy. Chief
AH and thereby remove the serious injustice which has been done
to the AHs in violation of the principles of natural justice.

We have touched this aspect of the matter only incidentally as
it was mentioned in the Affidavit filed before us and appeared to us
D to be of some consequence.

Thus, from a comparison of the mode of recruitment the
classification, the promotional avenues and other matters which
we have discussed above, we are satisfied that the AHs from an
absolutely separate category from that of AFPs in many respects
E having different grades, different promotional avenues and different
service conditions. Finally, it may also be noted that even though
the AHs retire at the age of 35 (extendable) to 45 they get retiral
benefits quite different from those available to the AFPs. For
instance, at pages 68-69 of Vol. II of the Paperbook the following
averments may be specially noticed:-
F
"The benefits particularly the retirement benefits for
male cabin crew and female cabin crew in service have been
and are materially different and the expectations raised on
,
the basis of these benefits are also viewed differently.
Thus, for instance, an Air Hostess, who is recruited
G
between the age of 19 and 25 on a higher pay scale than
that of an Assistant Flight Purser and who retires after
service of l O years, is entitled to the same quantum of free
air passages, which she w"s entitled to in the 10th year of
H her service, for a continuous period of five years thereafter.
Similarly, an Air Hostess who has completed 15 years of
service and retires thereafter is entitled to free air passages
AIR INDIA v. NERGESH MEERZA (Paza/ Ali, J.) 469

for a continuous period of 10 years thereafter on the basis A
of the total number of free air passages she was entitled to
in the 15 years of her service. On the other hand, Assis-
tant Flight Pursers who are recruited between the ages
of 21 and 26 are entitled to retirement benefit of free air
passage only if they voluntarily retire after 25 years of
continuous service or on attaining the age of superannua- 8
tion, i.e., 58 years. If the retirement age of air hostess
were extended to 58 years, they would be subjected to the
same discipline and reaction of many of the existing air
hostesses in Air India is that the differentiation in retire-
ment ages between men and women is fair and reasonable
and to their advantage. In fact most of the air hostesses C
are anxious to complete I 0 years of service and retire to
become eligible for these benefits."
These benefits are further explained in a chart given in Ext. D
• which extracts the relevant portions of Air India Employees Passage
Regulations, 1960. The relevant portion of the provisions may be
extracted thus : D
Category Scale of Period for which
concession concession would
be admissible
(a) Employees retiring One free passage Till the death
on reaching the every year or two of the retired E
age of 58 years or free passage every employee.
55 years, as the alternate year and
case may be, pro- not more than
vided they have two 90% rebated
rendered conti- passages every
nuous service for year. F
a minimum period
-. of 20 years.
' (b) Employees retiring Two free passage Till the death
on reaching the every year and of the retired
age of 58 years or not more than employee.
55 years, as the two 90% rebated G
case may be, pro- passage every
vided they have year.
rendered conti-
nuous service for a
minimum of 25 H
years.
470 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1982] I S.C.R.

A (c) Employees permit- One free passage Till the death
ted by Competent every year or of the retired
authority to retire two passage every employee.
voluntarily after alternate year
completion of a and not more
continuous service than two 90%
B of not less than rebated passages
25 years. every year.

(d) Air Hostesses retir- One free passage For a period
ing after rendering every year or not exceeding
continuous service two free passa- five years
c for a minimum
period of 10 years,
ges every alter-
nate year and
from the date
of retirement
but less than 15 one 75% reba- or from April
years. ted passage l, 1974,
every year or whichever is
two 75% reba- later.
D ted passages
every alterna-
tive year.

(e) Instructress, Air Hos- One free passage For a period
tess/Lady Recep- every year or not exceeding
E tionists-retiring after two free pass- ten years from
rendering continuous ages every alter- the date of
service for a m1n1- nate year and retirement or
mum period of 15 one 75% reba- from April
years. ted passage I, 1974
every year or whichever
F two 75% reba- is later.
ted passages
every alternate
year.
(f) Employees retiring
permanently due to -do- -do-
G
medical unfitness
provided that they
have retired after
rendering continuous
service for a mini-
H
mum period of 15
years.
AIR JNDIA V. NERGESH MEERZA (Faza/ Ali, J.) 471

Thus, although the AFPs also get retiral benefits which conti- A
nue upto their death yet they get these benefits only after having
put in 20 years of service or reaching the age of superannuation
which in their case is 55 or 58 years; whereas; the AHs get almost
the same concessions, though for a lesser period, even after serving
the Corporation for a much shorter period. This is yet another
distinctive feature of the separate category of AHs. B

Having regard, therefore, to the various circumstances, inci-
dents, service conditions, promotional avenues, etc. of the AFPs
and AHs, the inference is irresistible that AHs though members of
the cabin crew are an entirely separate class governed by different
set of rules, regulations and conditions of service. Mr. Nariman
c
submitted that job functions performed by the AFPs and AHs
being entirely different, is also an important circumstance to prove
that AHs is a class completely separate from the class of AFPs.
We are, however, not impressed with this argument because a
perusal of the job functions which have been detailed in the affidavit, D
clearly shows that the functions of the two, though obviously diffe-
rent overlap on some points but the difference, if any, is one of
degree rather than of kind. Moreover, being members of the crew
in the same flight, the two separate classes have to work as a team,
helping and assisting each other particularly in case of emergency.
This aspect of the matter was highlighted by the Mahesh Award E
which observed thus :

"The management claims that there cannot be and
should not be, any inflexibility or rigidity regarding the
functions and duties of the different categories of cabin
crew and the Management should have full authority and F
discretion as regards the interchangeability of job alloca-
1ions and functions and duties of the different categories
-. of cabin crew and for effecting from time to time such
' interchanges of job allocations and of functions and duties
as it might think fit.
G

There is not the slightest doubt that the Cabin Crew
have to work as a team as pointed out by Shri S.S. Hemmadi
(AMW-5). Although there are different duties fixed for
1ifferent categories, it is necessary for each category to
"
472 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1982) 1 S.C.R.
I -
give help and do the work of other categories for the smooth
flight."
(vide pp. 1259-60 of the
Mahesh Award)

8 We entirely agree with the observations made in the Mahesh
Award and, therefore, do not attach much importance to this cir-
cumstance relied upon by the Corporation.

In the same token, an additional argument advanced by
Mr. Setalvad was that certain terms and conditions of AHs were
c ·palpably discriminatory and violative of Art. 14. For instance,
under the Regulations concerned, AHs suffered from three impor-
tant disabilites-(1) their services were terminated on first pre-
gnancy, (2) they were not allowed to marry within four years from
the date of their entry into service, and (3) the age of retirement of
AHs was 35 years, extendable to 45 years at the option of the
Managing Director, as against the retirement age of AFPs who
D
retired at the age of 55 or 58 years. There can be no doubt that
these peculiar conditions do form part of the Regulations governing
AHs but once we have held that AHs from a separate category
with different and separate incidents the circumstances pointed out
by the petitioners cannot amount to discrimination so as to violate
E Art. 14 of the Constitution on this ground. There is no complaint
by the petitioners that between the separate class of AHs inter se
there has been any discrimination regarding any matter. In fact,
the only point raised on this aspect was that AHs employed by
A.I. in U.K. have different conditions of service from AHs serving
A.I. in countries other than U.K. Doubtless this distinction is there
F but this is really a fortuitous circumstance because A.I. was forced
to comply with the local laws of U. K. in order to increase the age
of retirement of AHs posted in England. Surely we cannot expect
A.I. to commit an offence by violating the laws of U.K. In Navy,
Army and Air Force Institutes v. Varely(') the variation between the
hours of work by female employees in Nottingham and the hours
G of work by male employees in London was held to be vaild and
did not violate the principle of Equality. Phillips, J.. made the
following observations :

-
"An example which we gave the other day was of a
case where all the conditions are satisfied for the operation
H
(!) [1977] I All. BR 840.
AIR INDIA v. NERGESH MEERZA (Fazal, Ali.J.) 473

-' of an equality clause-because, for instance, there is a A
variation in that a woman is paid Jess·-but it is found on
investigation that the employers can establish (and the
burden of proof, which is a heavy burden, is always on
them) that the reason the man is paid more than the woman
has nothing whatever to do with sex but is due to the
fact that the employers have in force a system under which B
a long-service employee is paid more so the variation there
is due, not to a difference of sex, but to that material diffe-
rence. It is important to note there that the women, if
she remains sufficiently long in the company's employ, will
• of course one day herself qualify to receive a long-service
increment. G
It is common ground in this case that the variation-that
is to say, ihe difference in the hours worked in London
and those worked in Nottingham-is not due to a difference
of sex."
D
On a parity of reasoning in the instant case, therefore, the
violation of Art. 14 is not due to any fault of the Corporati' i
which only seeks to abide by the local laws of United Kingdom nor
could it be said that the higher retirement age was fixed for AHs
posted in U.K. only on the ground of sex.
E
Coming now to the next limb of the argument of Mr. Setalvad
that even if there is no discrimination inter se between AHs, the
condititions referred to above are so unreasonable and arbitrary
that they violate Art. 14 and must, therefore, be struck down, we
feel that the argument merits serious consideration. Before,
however, we deal with the various aspects of this argument, we F
might mention an important argument put forward by the Corpora-
tion that the class of AHs is a sex-based recruitment and, therefore,
-. any, discrimination made in their service conditions has not been
' made on the ground of sex only but due to a lot of other considera-
tions also. Mr. Setalvad tried to rebut this argument by contending
that the real discrimination is based on the basis of sex which is G
sought to be smoke-screened by giving a halo of circumstances other
than sex. Both parties placed reliance on the 1976 Act. It may
be necessary to examine the relevant section of the 1976 Act.
Sub-sections (I) and (3) s. 4 of the 1976 Act may be extracted
thus:- H
"4. (I) No employer ~hall pay to any worker, employed
474 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1982] I S.C.R.
'-
A by him in an establishment or employment, remuneration,
whether payable in cash or in kind, at rates Jess favourable --
than those at which remuneration is paid by him to the
works of the opposite sex in such establishment or of a
similar nature.

·B
(3) Where, in an establishment or employment, the
rates of remuneration payable before the commencement
of this Act for men and women workers for the same work
or work of a similar nature are different only on the ground
c of sex, then the higher (in cases where there are only two
rates), or, as the case may be, the highest (in cases where
there are more than two rates), of such rates shall be the
rate at which remuneration shall be payable, on and from
such commencement, to such men and women workers :"

D There is no doubt that the statutory mandate prohibits any
employer from making a distinction in wages between male and
female. Had the matter rested here, there could have been no I,.
option but to accept the argument of Mr. Setalvad. It would,
however, appear that the benefit conferred on the females under ~
the 1976 Act is not absolute and unconditional. Section 16 clearly r
E. authorises restrictions regarding remuneration to be paid by the ' {
employer if a declaration under it is made by the appropriate ~'~
Government, which may be extracted)hus :

"16. Where the appropriate Government is, on a
consideration of all the circumstances of the case, satisfied
F that the differences in regard to the remuneration, or a
particular species of remuneration, of men and women
workers in any establishments or employment is based on ,
a factor other than sex, it may, by notification, make a
declaration to that effect, and any act of the employer attri-
butable to such a difference shall not be deemed to be a
G contravention of any provision of this Act."

In the instant case, the Central Government has made a
declaration by virtue of a Notification dt. 15.6.79 published in the
Gazette of India, Part II-Section 3, Sub-section (ii) dated 30.6. 79.
H which runs thus :-

"New Delhi, the 15th June 1979.
AIR INDIA v. NERGESH MEERZA (Fazal Ali, J.) 475

S.C. 2258-ln exercise of the powers conferred by A
section 16 of the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 25 of 1976)
the Cenral Government having considered all the circum-
stances relating to, and terms and conditions of employ-
ment of Air Hostesses and Flight Stewards, are satisfied that
the difference in regard to pay, etc. of these categories of
emplo) ees are based on different conditions of service and B
not on the difference of sex. The Central Government,
therefore, declares that any act of the employer attributable
to such differences shall not be declared to be in contraven-
tion of any of the provisions of the Act."

Thus, the declaration is presumptive proof of the fact that in C
the matter of allowances, conditions of service and other types of
remuneration, no discrimination has been made on the ground of
sex only. The declaration by the Central Government, therefore,
completely concludes the matter.

Even otherwise, what Articles 15 (I) and 16 (2) prohibit is that
discrimination should not be made only and only on the ground of
D
sex. These Articles of the Constitution do not prohibit the State
from making discrimination on the ground of sex coupled with
other considerations. On this point, the matter is no longer res
inregru but is covered by several authorities of this Court. In
Yusuf Abdul Aziz v. The State of Bombay and Husseinbhoy La/jee(')
sex was held to be a permissible classification. While dealing with
E
this aspect of the matter this Court observed thus:-

Article 14 is general and must be read with the other pro-
visions which set out the ambit of fundamental rights. Sex
is a sound classification and although there can be no
discrimination in general on that ground, the Constitution F
itself provides for special provisions in the case of women
and children. The two articles read together validate
the impugned clause in section 497 of the Indian Penal
Code."

The same view was taken by this Court in a later deci;ion G
in Miss C.B. Muthamma v. U.O.l. and Ors.(2) where Krishna Iyer,
J. speaking for the Court made the following observations:

"We do not mean to universalise or dogmatise that
H
(I) [1954] SCR 930.
(2) [1979] 4 sec 260.
476 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1982] 1 S.C.R. I"'

men and women are equal in all occupatior1s and all situa-
A tions and do not exclude the need to pragmatise where the
requirements of particular employment; the sensitivities of
sex or the peculiarities of societal sectors or the handicaps
of either sex may compel selectivity. But save where the
differentiation is demonstrable, the rule of equality must
govern."
B
For these reasons, therefore, the argument of Mr. Setalvad ,I"
that the conditions of service with regard to retirement, etc., amount
to discrimination on the ground of sex only is overruled and it is
held that the conditions of service indicated above are not violative
of Art. 16 on this ground.
c
This brings us now to the next limb of the argument of
Mr. Setalvad which pertains to ihe question as to whether and
not the conditions imposed on the AHs regarding their retirement
and termination are manifestly ureasonable or absolutely arbitrary.
D We might mention here that even though the conditions mentioned
above may not be violative of Art. 14 on the ground of discrimina-
tion but if it is proved to our satisfaction that the conditions laid
down are entirely unreasonable and absolutely arbitrary, then the
provisions will have to be struck down.

E This argument was sought to be rebutted by Mr. Nariman on
the ground that the conditions mentioned above formed the subject-
matter of the two Awards which have upheld the conditions to be
valid. It was also contended that even though the period of the
Award has expired, they continue to be binding on the parties and
as these matters pertain to industrial dispute, this Court should
F not disturb the settlement arrived at or the Awards given by the
National Tribunals and allow the disputes to be settled in the proper
forum, viz., Industrial courts. To buttress this argument, reliance
was placed on certain observations in the two Awards as also some
authorities .

• In this connection, while dealing with this particular demand
G of the AHs, the Khosla Award observed thus:

"256. With regard to air hostesses, the contention of
the Management is that they are in a special class. They
have to deal with passengers of various temperaments, and a
young and attractive air hostess is able to cope with difficult
H or awkward situations more competently and more easily than
AIR INDIA v. NERGESH MEERZA (Fazal Ali, J.) 477

an older person with less personal prepossessions. 011 A
this point there can be no two opinions. It was also
pointed out that air hostesses do not stay very long in
the service of Air India, and young and attractive women
are more inclined to look upon service in Air India as a
temporary occupation than as a career. Most of them get
married and leave the service . B

. 260. In my view, no case has been made out for raising
the age of retirement and in cases where the effici~ncy of the
employee is not impaired, there is suitable provision
under regulation 47 for extending his service upto the age
c
of 60. As observed above, there have been no complaints of
any employee being made to retire under the provision of
clause (ii) of regulation 46 .... "
D
Similar demands were made before the Mahesh Triubunal
which have been extracted earlier. The observations of the Mahesh
Tribunal may be extracted as follows :-

"There is no reason to have a different prov1s1on
regarding the air hostesses in Air India. The social condi-
E
tions fo Europe and elsewhere are different from the social
conditions in India. The work of an air hostess involves
running hither and thither and flying at the same time.
In case of an air hostess, her apperance, glamour and
weight are important. The working hours are also odd.
She has to walk up and down the aisles and has to be
F
away from home for a number of days at a time. All this
will not suit an Indian married woman and also places the
-. category of an air hostess on an entirely different level
from all those employed in a pharmaceutical concern. The
' work of an air hostess is more arduous. It seems, however,
reasonable that the present practice of restricting the G
extension beyond 30 years to one year at a time need not
be a part of the rules. The rule regarding extension of
service in the settlement between the ACEU and the Indian
Airlines of January 10, 1972 is better worded and it should
be adopted by the Air India also in its entirety. It enables
the General Manager to give extension for periods
H
longer than one year at a time, if he considers it proper.
The bar of retirement on marriage should remain."
478 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1982] I S.C.R.

A With due respect to Justice Khosla, we find ourselves unable
to agree with most of the observations that he has made and we
shall give detailed reasons for the same a little later when we deal
with the validity of the impugned regulations.

It is true that even though the period of the Awards may
B have expired yet it continues to be binding on the parties as an
agreement. In South Indian Bank Ltd. v. A.R. Chacko(') it was
held that even if the Award has ceased to be operative, it would
continue to be binding on the parties as a contract. In this
connection, Das Gupta, J. made the followlng observations : -

c "Quite apart from this, however, it appears to us
that even if an award has ceased to be in operation or in
force and has ceased to be binding on the parties under the
provisions of s. 19 (6) it will continue to have its effect
as a contract between the parties that has been made by
industrial adjudication in place of the old contract."
D
The same view was taken in Md. Qasim Larry, Factory
Manager, Sasamusa Sugar Works v. Muhammed Somsuddin
and Anr.(') and reiterated in Life Insurance Corporation of India v.
D.J. Bahadar and Ors.CJ where the following observations were
made:-
E
"It is obvious from Section 18 that a settlement, like an
award, is also binding. What I emphasise is that an award,
adjudicatory or arbitral, and a settlement during concilia·
tion or by agreement shall be binding because of statutory
sanction. Section 19 relates to the period of operation of
F settlements and awards and here also it is clear that both
settlements and awards, as is evident from a reading of
Section 19 (2) and (6), stand on the same footing.

The power of reasoning, the purpose of industrial juris-
G prudence and the logic of the law presented with terse force
in this pronoucement cannot be missed. The new contract

(I) (1964] 5 SCR 625.
H (2) (1964] 7 SCR 419.
<Jl [1981J 1 sec 315.
AIR INDIA v. NERGESH MEERZA (Fazal Ali, J.) 479

which is created by an award continues to govern the rela- A
tions between the parties till it is displaced by another
contract."

1he law is lucid and the justice manifest on termina- B
tion notice or notice of change the award or settlement
does not perish but survives to bind until reincarnation,
in any modified form, in a fresh regulation of conditions of
service by a settlement or award."

In view of the anthorities indicated above assuming that the C
two awards are binding on the petitioners, the serious question for
consideration is whether the agreement, which may be binding on
the parties, would estop them from challenging the Regulations on
the ground that the same are void as being violative of Articles 14
or 19 of the Constitution. It is well settled that there can be no
estoppel against a statute much less against constitutional provisions.
If, therefore, we hold in agreement with the argument of the peti-
tioners that the provisions for termination and retirement are viola-
tive of Art. 14 as being unreasonable and arbitrary, the Awards
or the agreements confirmed by the Awards would be of no assis-
tance to the Corporations.
E
, We now proceed to determine the constitutional validity of
the impugned Regulations. Taking the case of A.I. AHs. it would
appear that their conditions of service are governed by Regulations
46 and 47, the relevant portions of .vhich are extracted below:

''46. Retiring Age :
F
(i) Subject to the provision of sub-regulation (ii) hereof,
-- an employee shall retire from the service of the Cor-
poration upon attaining the age of 58 years, except in
the following cases when/he/she shall retire earlier :
G

(c) An Air Hostess, upon attaining the age of 35 years or

, on marriage if it takes place within four years of
service or on first pregnancy, whichever occurs
earlier; H
480 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1982] I s.c.R.

A (47) Extension of Service :

Notwithstanding anything contained in Regulation 46,
the services of any employee, may, at the option of the
Managing Director but on the Employee being found
medically fit, be extended by one year at a time beyond the
B age of retirement for an aggregate period not exceeding two
years except in the case of Air Hostesses and Receptionists
where the period will be ten years and five years respec-
tively."

A perusal of the Regulations shows that the normal age
of retirement of an AH is 35 years or on marriage, if it takes
place within four years of service, or on first pregnancy whichever
occurs earlier. Leaving the age of retirement for the time being,
let us examine the constitutional validity of the other two condi·
tions, viz., termination if marriage takes place within four years or
on first pregnancy So far as the question of marriage within four
D years is concerned, we do not think that the provisions suffer from
any constitutional infirmity. According to the regulations an AH
starts her career between the age of 19 to 26 years. Most of the
AHs are not only SSC which is the minimum qualification but
possess even higher qualifications and there are very few who decide
to marry immediately after entering the service. Thus, the Regula-
E tion permits an AH to marry at the age of 23 if she has joined tl1e
service at the age of I 9 which is by all standards a very sound and
salutary provision. Apart from improving the health of the emplo-
yee, it helps a good in the promotion and boosing up of our family
planning programme. Secondly, if a woman marries near about the
age of 20 to 23 years, she becomes fully mature and there is every
F chance of such a marriage proving a succes, all things being equal.
Thirdly, it has been rightly pointed out to us by the Corporation that
if the bar of marriage within four years of service is removed then the
Corporation will have to incur huge expenditure in recruiting addi·
tional AHs either on a temporary or on ad hoc basis to replace the
working AHs if they conceive and any period short of four years
G would be too little a time for the Corporation to phase out such an
ambitious plan.
Having regard to these circumstances, we are unable to find
any unreasonableness or arbitrariness in the provisions of . the
H Regulations which necessitate that the AHs should not lmarry within
four years of the service failing which their services will have to be
AIR INDIA v. NERGESH MEERZA (Fazal Ali, J.) 481

terminated. Mr. Setalvad submitted that such a bar'on marriage A
is an outrage on the dignity of the fair sex and is per s'i"
unreasonable. Though the argument of Mr. Setalvad is extremely
attractive but having taken into consideration an overall picture of
the situation and the difficulties of both the parties, we are unable
to find any constitutioml infirmity or any element of arbitrariness
in the aforesaid provisions. The argument of Mr. Setalvad as also B
those who followed him on this point is, therefore, overruled.

Coming now to the second limb of the provisions according
to which the services of AHs would stand terminated on first
pregnancy, we find ourselves in complete agreement with the
argument of Mr. Setalvad that this is a most unreasonable and c
arbitrary provision which shocks the conscience of :he Court. The
Regulation does not prohibit marriage after four years and if an
AH after having fulfilled the first condition becomes pregnant, there
is no reason why pregnancy should stand in the way of her
continuing in service. The Corporations represented to us that
pregnancy leads to a number of complications and to medical dis-
D
abilities which may stand in the efficient discharge of the duties by
the AHs. It was said that even m the early stage of pregnancy
some ladies are prone to get sick due to air pressure, nausea in

- long flights and such other technical factors. This, however, appears
to be purely an artificial argument because once a married woman
is allowed to continue in service then under the provisions of the
Maternity Benefit Act, 196 l and The Maharashtra Maternity
Rules, 1965 (these apply to both the Corp orations as their Head
E

offices are at Bombay), she is entitled to certain benefits including
maternity leave. In case, however, the Corpontions feel that
pregnancy from the very beginning may come in the way of the F
discharge of the duties by some of the AHs, they could be given
-- maternity leave for a period of 14 to 16 months and in the mean-
while there could be no difficulty 10 the Management making
'
arrangements on a temporary or ad hoc basis by employing
additional AHs. We are also unable to understand the argument
of the Corp<'ration that a woman after bearing children becomes G
weak in physique or in her constitution. There is neither any
legal nor medical authority for this bald proposition. Having
taken the AH in service and after having utilised her services for
four years, to terminate her service by the Management if she
becomes pregnant amounts to compelling the poor AH not to have
H
any children and thus interfere with and divert the ordinary course
482 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1982] 1 S.C.R.

A of human nature. It seems to us that the termination of the
services of an AH under such circumstances is not only a callous
and cruel act but an open insult to Indian womanhood the most
sacrosanct and cherised institution. We are constrained to observe
that such a course of action is extremely detestable and adhorrent
to the-· notions of a civilised society. Apart from being grossly
B unethical, it smacks of a deep rooted sense of utter selfishness at
the cost of all human values. Such a provision, therefore, is not
only manifestly unreasonable and arbitrary but contains the quality
of unfairness and exhibits naked despotism and is, therefore,
clearly violative of Art. 14 of the Constitution. In fact, as a very
fair and conscientious counsel Mr. Nariman realised the inherent
c weakness and the apparent absurdity of the aforesaid impugned
provisions and in the course of his arguments he stated that he had
been able to persuade the Management to amend the Rules so as
to delete 'first pregnancy' as a ground for termination of the
service and would see that suitable amendments are made to Regu-
lation 46 (i) (c) in the following manner :
D
"(a) Regulation 46 (i) (c) will be amended so as to substi-
tute for the words "or a first pregnancy", the words
"or on a third pregnancy".

E
(b) There will be a suitably framed Regulation to pro- ....
vide for the above and for the following :

(i) An air hostess having reason to believe that she
is pregnant will intimate this to Air India and
will also elect in writing within a reasonable time
whether or not to continue in service.
F
(ii) If such air hostess elects to continue in service on
pregnancy, she shall take leave from service for
--,
a period not later than that commencing from
90 days after conception and will be entitled to
G resume service only after confinement (or prema-
ture termination of pregnancy) and after she is
certified by the Medical Officer of AIR INDIA as
being fit for resuming her duties as an air hostess
after delivery or confinement or prior termination
of pregnancy. The said entire period will be
B treated as leave without pay subject to the air
hostess being entitled to maternity leave with pay
AIR INDIA v. NERGESH MEERZA (Paza/ Ali, J.) 483

as in the case of other female employees and A
privilege leave under the Regulations.

(iii) Every such air hostess will submit to an annual
medical examination by the Medical Officer of
AIR INDIA for certification of continued physi-
cal fitness or such other specifications of health and 8
physical condition as may be prescribed by AIR
INDIA in this behalf in the interest of mainten-
ance of efficiency.

(iv) It will be clarified that the provisions relating to
continuance in service on pregnancy will only be C
available to married women-an unmarried
woman on first pregnancy will have to retire/
from srrvice."

The proposed amendment seems to us to be quite reasonable
but the decision of this case cannot await the amendment which D
may or may not be made. We would, therefore, have to give our
decision regarding the constitutional validity of the said provision.
Moreover, clause (b) (iv) above, which is the proposed amendment,
also suffers from the infirmity that if an unmarried woman

-
conceives then her service would be terminated on first pregnancy.
This provision a!So appears to us to be wholly unreasonable because E
apart from being revolting to all sacred human values, it fails to
take into consideration cases where a woman becomes a victim of
rape or other circumstances resulting in pregnancy by force or
fraud for reasons beyond the control of the woman and having gone
through such a harrowing experience she has to face termination of
service for no fault of hers. Furthermore, the distinction of first F
pregnancy of a married woman and that of an unmarried woman
does not have any reasonable or rational basis and cannot be
supported.

In General Electric Company v. Martha V. Gilbert(') although
the majority of the Judges of the U.S. Supreme Court were of the G
opinion that exclusion of pregnancy did not constitute any sex
discrimination in violation of Title VII nor did it amount to gender•
based discrimination; three judges, namely Brennan, Marshall and
Stevens, JJ. dissented from this view and held that the pregnancy
disability exlusion amounted to downgrading women's role in labour 9
(I) 50 L. Ed. 2d 343.
484 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1982) l s.c.R.

A force. The counsel for the Corporation relied on the majority
judgments of Rehnquist, Burger, Stewart, White and Powell, JJ.
while the petitioners relied strongly on the dissenting opinion. We
are inclined to accept the dissenting opinion which seems to take a
mor: reasonable and rational view. Brennan, J. with whom
Marshall, J. agreed, observed as follows:
B
"(l) the record as to the history of the emoloyer's
practices showed that the pregnancy disability exclusion
stemmed from a policy that purposefully downgraded
women's role in the labour force, rather than from gender-
neutral risk assignment considerations.
c
Stevens, J, while endorsing the view of Brennan, J. observed
thus :-

"The case presented only a question of statutory cons-
truction, and (2) the employers rule placed the risk of
D absence caused by pregnancy in a class by itself, thus
violating the statute as discriminating on the basis of sex,
since it was the capacity to become pregnant which
primarily differentiated the female from the male."

In the instant case, if the Corporation has permitted the
E AHs to marry after the expiry of four years then the decision to
terminate the services on first pregnancy seems to be wholly incon-
sistent and incongruous with the concession given to the AHs by
allowing them to marry. Moreover, the provision itself is so out-
rageous that it makes a mockery of doing justice to the AHs on
the imaginative plea that pregnancy will result in a number of
F complications which can easily be avoided as pointed out by us
earlier. Mr. Setalvad cited a number of decisions of the U.S.
Supreme Court on the question of sex but most of these decisions •·
may not be relevant because they are on the question of denial of
equality of opportunity. In view of our finding, however, that
AHs form a separate class from the category consisting of AFPs,
G these authorities would have no application particularly in view of
the fact that there is some difference between Articles 14, 15 and 16
of our Constitution and the due-process-clause and the 14th
Amendment of the American Constitution. This Court bas held
that the provisions of the American Constitution cannot always be
H applied to Indian conditions or to the provisions of our Constitu-
tion. While some of the principles adumbrated by the American
AIR INDIA v. NERGESH MEERZA (Fazal Ali. J.) 485

a
decisions may provide useful guide yet this Court did not favour a A
close adherence to those principles while applying the same to the
provision·s of our Constitution, because the social conditions in this
country are different. In this connection in the State of West
Bengal v. Anwar Ali Sarkar,( 1) Mukherjea, J, observed thus :-

"A number of American decisions ha•e been cited B
before us on behalf of both parties in course of the argu·
ments; and while a too rigid adherence to the views
expressed by the Judges of the Supreme Court of America
while dealing with the equal protection clause in their own
Constitution may not be necessary or desirable for the pur-
pose of determing the true meaning and scope of article 14 c
of the Indian Constitution , it cannot be denied that the
general principle enunciated in many of these cases do
afford considerable help and guidance in the matter."

Same view was taken in a later decision of this Court in
A . S . Krishna v. State of Madras(2) where it was held that the 0
due process clause in the American Constitution could not apply
to our Constitution. In this connection Venkatarama Ayyar, J.
observed thus : -
"The law would thus appear to be based on the due
process clause, and it is extremely doubtful whether it can
have application under our Constitution."
E

At any rate, we shall refer only to those authorities
which deal with pregnancy as amounting to per se discrimina-
tory or arbitrary. In Cleve! and Board of Education v. Jo Carol
La Flour(') the U.S. Supreme Court made the following observa·
tions :- F

"As long as the teachers are required to give substan-
' tial advance notice of their condition, the choice of firm
dates later in pregnancy would serve the boards objectives
just as well, while imposing a far lesser burdern on the
women's exercise of constitutionally protected freedom. G

........... (1) [195'.] SCR 284 .
(2) [1957] SCR 399. H
(3) 39 L . Ed 2d 52.
486 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1982] 1 S.C.R.

A While it might be easier for the school boards to con·.
elusively presume that all pregnant women are unfit to
teach past the fourth or fifth month or even the first month,
of pregnancy, administrative convenience alone is insuffi·
cient to make valid what otherwise is a violation of due
process of law. The Fourteenth Amendment requires the
8 school boards to employ alternative administrative means,
which do not so broadly infringe upon basic contitutional
liberty, in support of their legitimate goals ......

While the regulations no doubt represent a good·
faith attempt to achieve a laudable goal, they cannnot pass
0 muster under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth
Amendment, because they employ irrebuttable presump-
tions that unduly penalize a female teacher for deciding to
bear a child.'·

The observations made by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding
the teachers fully apply to the case of the pregnant AHs. In
D Sharron A. Fromiero v. Filliot L. Richardson(1) the following observa-
tions were made :

"Moreover, since sex, like race and national origin, is an
imrr.utable characteristic determined solely by the accident
of birth, the imposition of special disabilities upon the
E members of a particular sex be1.:ause of their sex would
seem to violate "the basic concept of our system that legal
burdens should bear some relationship to individual respon·
sibility.''

What is said about the fair sex by Judges fully applies to a
F pregnant woman because pregnancy also is not a disability but one
of the natural consequences of marriage and is an immutable
charaeteristic of married life. Any distinction therefore, made on
the ground of pregnancy cannot but be held to be extremely
arbitrary.
G In Mary Ann Turner v. Department of Employment Security(2)
the U.S. Supreme Court severely criticised the maternity leave rules
which required a teacher to quit her job several months before

H
the expected child . In this connection the court observed as
follows:-
(I) 36 L. Ed. 2d 583.
(2) 46 L. Ed. 2d 181.
--
AIR INDIA v. NERGESH MEERU (f'azal Ali, J.) 487

-' ''The Court held that a school board's mandatory
maternity leave rule which required a teacher to quit her job
A
several months before the expected birth of her child and
prohibited her return to work until three months after child
birth violated the Fourteenth Amendment ... the Constitution
required a more individualized approach to the question of
the teacher's physical capacity to continue her employment B

-'"'\..
. during pregnancy and resume her .duties after childbirth since
"the ability of any particular pregnant women to continue
at work past any fixed time in her pregnancy is very much
an individual matter.

It cannot be doubted that a substantial number of C
women are fully capable of working well into their last tri-
mester of pregnancy and of resuming employment shortly
after childbirth.
We conclude that the Utah unemployment compensa-
tion statute's incorporation of a conclusive presumption of
incapacity during so long a period before and after child- D
birth is constitutionally invalid under the principles of the
La Fleur case."
We fully endorse the observations made by the U.S. Supreme
Court which, in our opinion, aptly apply to the facts of the present
case. By making pregnancy a bar to continuance in service of an E
AH the Corporation seems to have made an individualised approach
to a women's physical capacity to continue her employment even
after pregnancy which undoubtedly is a most unreasonable
approach.

Similarly, very pregnant observations were made by the U.S.
F
Supreme Court in City of Los Angeles, Department of Water and
Power v. Marie Manhart(') thus :

"It is now well recognized that employment decisions
cannot be predicated on mere 'stereotyped' impressions
abont the characteristics of males or females. Myths and
purely habitual assumptions about a woman's inability to G
perform certain kinds of work are no longer acceptable
reasons for refusing to employ qualified individuals, or for
paying them less .... The question, therefore, is whether the
existence or non-existence of "di~rimination"is to be deter-
H
(1) 55 L Ed 2d 657.
488 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1982] I S.C.R.

A mined by comparison of class characteristics or individual I -

charcteristics. A 'stereotyped' answer to that question may
not be the same as the answer that the language and pur-
pose of the statute command.

B
Even if the statutory language were less clear, the
basic policy of the statute requires that we focus on
fairness to individuals rather than fairness to classes.
Practices that classify employees in terms of religion, race,
or sex tend to preserve traditional assumptions about
c groups rather than thoughtful scrutiny of individuals."

These observations also apply to the bar contained in the
impugned regulation against continuance of service after pregnancy.
In Bombay Labour Union Representing the Workmen of M/s. lnter-
national Franchises Pvt. Ltd., v. M/s. International Franchises Pvt.
D Ltd.( 2) this Court while dealing with a rule barring married women
from working in a particular concern expressed views almost similar
to the views taken by the U. S. Supreme Court in the decisions
referred to above. in that case a particular rule required that
unmarried women were to give up service on marriage-a rule which
existed in the Regulations of the Corporation also but appears to
E have been deleted now. In criticising the validity of this rule this
Court observed as follows :-

"We are not impressed by these reasons for retaining
a rule of this kind. Nor do we think that because the
work has to be done as a team it cannot be done by married
F women. We also feel that there is nothing to show that
married women would necessarily be more likely to be
absent than unmarried women or widows. If it is the ,
presence of children which may be said to account for
greater absenteeism among married women, that would be
so more or less in the case of widows with children also.
G The fact that the work has got to be done as a team and
presence of all those workmen is necessary, is in our
opinion no disqualification so far as married women are
concerned. It cannot be disputed that even unmarried
H
(I) (1966] 2 SCR 493.
AIR INDIA v. NERGESH MEERZA(l'azal Ali, J.) 489

women or widows are entitled to such leave as the respon · A
dent's rules provide and they would be availing themselves
of these leave facilities."

These observations apply with equal force to the bar of
pregnancy contained in the impugned Regulation.
B

~
. It was suggested by one of the Corporations that after a
woman becomes pregnant and bears children there may be lot of
difficulties in her resuming service, the reason being that her husband
may not permit her to work as an AH. These reasons, however.
do not appeal to us because such circumstances can also exist even
without pregnancy in the case of a married woman and if a married
c
woman leaves the job, the Corporation will have to make arrange-
ments for a snbstitnte. Moreover, whether the woman after bearing
children would continue in service or wonld find it difficult to look
after the children is her personal matter and a problem which affects
the AH concerned and the Corporation has nothing to do with the
D
same. These are circumstances which happen in the normal course
of business and cannot be helped. Suppose an AH dies or becomes
incapacitated, it is manifest that the Corporation will have to make
alternative arrangements for her substitute. In these circumstances,
therefore, we are satisfied that the reasons given for imposing the
.
' bar are neither logical nor convincing.

In view of our recent decision explaining the scope of Art. I 4,
E

it has been held that any arbitrary or unreasonable action or provi-

-
sion made by the State cannot be upheld. In M/s. Dwarka Prasad
Laxmi Naraian v. The State of Uttar Pradesh & Ors.(1) this Court
made the following observations :- F
"Legislation, which arbitrarily or excessively invades
the right, cannot be said to contain the quality of reason-
• ableness, and unless it strikes a proper balance between
the freedom guaranteed under article 19 (I) (g) and the
social control permitted by clause (6) of article 19, it must G
be held to be wanting in reasonableness."

In Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India,( 2 ) Beg, C.J. observed
as follows :
H
(1) [1954] SCR 803.
(2) [1978] 2 SCR 621.
490 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1982] I s.c.R.

A "The view I have taken above proceeds on the assump·
lion that there are inherent or natural human rights of
the individual recognised by and embodied in our Consti-
tution ..... .If either the reason sanctioned by the law is
absent, or the procedure followed in arriving at the conclu-
sion that such a reason exists is unreasonable, the order
B having the effect of deprivation or restriction must be
quashed."

and Bhagwati, J. observed thus:

"Equality is a dynamic concept with many aspects and
c dimensions and it cannot be imprisoned wiihin traditional
and doctrinaire limits ...... Article 14 strikes at arbitariness
in State action and ensures fairness and equality of
treatment. The principle of reasonableness, which legally
as well as philosophically, is an essential element of equality
or non-arbitrariness pervades Article 14 like a brooding
D omnipresence ...... It must be "right and just and fair"
and not arbitrary, fanciful or oppressive; otherwise, it
would be no procedure at all and the requirement of
Article 21 would not be satisfied."

Jn an earlier case in E. P. Royappa v. State of Tamil Nadu and
E Anr.(') Similar observations were made by this Court thus:

"In fact equality and arbitrariness are sworn ene·
mies; one belongs to the rule of law in a republic, while
the other, to the whim and caprice of an absolute monarch.
Where an act is arbitrary, it is implicit in it that it is
F unequal both according to political logic and constitutional
law and is therefore violative of Article 14."

In State of Andhra Pradesh and A.nr. v. Nalla Raja Reddy and
Ors (2 ) this Court made the following observations :

G "Official arbitrariness is more subversive of the doctrine
of equality than statutory discrimination. In respect of a
statutory discrimination one knows where he stands, but
the wand of official arbitrariness can be waved in all
directions indiscriminately."
H
(I) [1974] 2 SCR 348.
(2) [1967] 3 SCR 28.
AIR INDIA v. NERGESH MEERZA ( Faza/ Ali, J.) 49 l
"· ' The impugned provisions appear to us to be a clear case of A
official arbitrariness. As the impugned part of the regulation is
severable from the rest of the regulation, it is not necessary for us
to strike down the entire Regulation.

For the reasons given above, we strike down the last portion
of regulation 46 (i) (c) and hold that the provision 'or on first B
pregnancy whichever occurs earlier' is unconstitutional, void and
is violative of Art. J 4 of the Constitution and will, therefore, stand
deleted. It will, however, be open to the Corporation to make
suitable amendments in the light of our observations and on the
lines indicated by Mr. Nariman in the form of draft proposals
referred to earlier so as to soften the rigours of the provisions and c
make it just and reasonable. For instance, the rule could be suitably
amended so as to terminate the services of an AH on third preg-
nancy provided two children are alive which would be both salutary
and reasonable for two reasons. In the first place, the provision
preventing third pregnancy with two existing children would be in
the larger interest of the health of the AH concerned as also for D
the good upbringing of the children. Secondly, as indicated above
while dealing with the rule regarding prohibition of marriage
within four years, same considerations would apply to a bar of
third pregnancy where two children are already there because
when the entire world is faced with the problem of population
explosion it will not only be desirable but absolutely essential for E
every country to see that the family planning programme is not
only whipped up but maintained at sufficient levels so as to meet
the danger of over population which, if not controlled, may lead
to serious social and economic problems throughout the world.
The next provision which has been the subject matter of
serious controversy betweed the parties. is the one contained in F
regulation 46 (i) (c). According to this provision, the normal age
of retirement of an AH is 35 years which may at the option of the
Managing Director be extended to 45 years subject to other condi-
tions being satisfied. A similar regulation is to be found in the
Rules made by the I.A.C. to which we shall refer hereafter. The
question of fixation of retirement age of an AH is to be decided by G
the authorities concerned after taking into consideration various
factor> such as the nature of the work, the prevailing conditions,
the practice prevalent in other establishments and the like. In
Imperial Chemical Industries (India) Pvt. Ltd. v. The Workmen(')
B
(1) (1961] 2 SCR 349.
492 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1982) I S.C.R.

A this Court pointed out that in fixing the age of retirement, changing
the terms and conditions of service, the determination of the age on
industry-cum-region basis would undoubtedly be a relevant factor.
In this connection, Gajendragadkar, J. made the following further
observations :

B "There is no doubt that in fixing tbe age of retirement
no hard and fast rule can be laid down. The decisio.i on
the question would always depend on a proper assessment ",r•
of the relevant factors and may conceivably vary from case
to case."

c Similarly, in an earlier case in Gueit, Keen, Williams Pvt. Ltd.
v. P. J. Sterling und Ors.(1) this Court made the following
observations :

"In fixing the age of superannuation industrial
tribunals have to take into account several relevant factors.
D What is the nature of the work assigned to the employees
in the course of their employment ......... What is generally
the practice prevailing in the industry in the past in the
matter of retiring its employees? These and other relevant
facts have to be weighed by the tribunal in every case when
it is called upon to fix an age of superannuation in an
E industrial dispute."'

It is, therefore, manifest that the factors to be considered
must be relevant and bear a close nexus to the nature of the
organisation and the duties of the employees. Where the authority
concerned takes into account factors or circumstances which are
F inherently irrational or illogical or tainted, the decision fixing the
age of retirement is open to serious scrutiny.

The stand taken by A.I. regarding this particular prov1s10n is '
that there are several reasons which prompted the Management to
persuade the Government to make this Regulation. In the
G first place, it was contended that in view of the arduous and
strenuous work that the AHs have to put in an early date of retire-
ment is in the best interest of their efficiency and also in the
interest of their health. Another reason advanced by A.I. is
that several years experience of the working of AHs shows
H
(2) [1960] I SCR 348.
AIR INDIA v. NERGESH MEERZA (Fazal Ali, J.) 493
~· '
that quite a large number of them retire even before they A
reach the age of 35; hence a lower age for retirement is fixed in
their case under the Regulation with a provision for extension in
suitable cases. These reasons are no doubt understandable and
prima fa<ie appear to be somewhat sound. We are, however, not
quite sure if the premises on the basis of which these arguments
B
have been put forward are really correct. In the present times with
advancing medical technology it may not be very correct to say that
a woman loses her normal faculties or that her efficiency is impaired
at the age of 35, 40 or 45, years. It is difficult to generalise a pro·
position like this which will have to vary from individaul to indivi-
dual. On the other hand, there may be cases where an AFP may
be of so weak and unhealthy a constitution that he m• y not be
c
able to function upto the age of 58, which is the age of retirement
of AFP according to the Regulation. As, however, the distinction
regarding the age of retirement made by the Regulation between
AHs and AFPs cannot be said to be discriminatory because AHs
have been held by us to be a separate class yet we will have to D
examine the provision from other points of view as well. Another
line of reasoning which has been placed before us and which smacks
of a most perverse and morbid approach is to be found in para 9
of the counter-affidavit in vol. II of the Paperbook where the
following averments have been made :-
E
"With reference to paragraph 30 of the Affidavit, I
repeat that Air Hostesses are recruited for providing attrac-
tive and pleasing service to passengers in a highly competi·
tive field and consequently stress is laid on their appea-
rance, youth, glamour and charm."
F
We are rather suprised that similar arguments made before
the two Tribunals seem to have found favour with tuem because at
page 204 (para 256) the Khosla Award having been carried away
by the arguments of the Corporation made the following observa-
ticns:
G
"They have to deal with passengers of various tem-
peran ents, and a young and attractive air hostess is able
to cope with difficult or awkward situations more com·
petently and more easily than an older person with Jess
personal prepossession." H
494 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1982} J S.C.R

A We fail to see how a young and attractive AH would be able ' 1

to cope with difficult or awkward situations more effectively than
others because smartness or beauty cannot be the only hallmark of
competency. Similar observations were made by the Mahesh
Tribunal in the following terms.

8 "The management claims this on the ground that the
cabin crew service has to be attractive to passengers."

The argument that AHs should be young and attractive and
should possess pleasing manners seems to suggest that AHs should
by their sweet smiles and pleasant behaviour entertain and look
c after the passengers whicl1 cannot be done by women of older age.
This argument seems to us to be based on pure speculation and an
artificial understanding of the qualities of the fair sex and, if we
may say so, it amounts to an open insult to the institution of our
sacred womanhood. Such a morbid approach is totally against our
ancient culture and heritage as a woman in our country occupies
D a very high and respected position in the society as a mother, a
wife, a companion and a social worker. It is idle to contend that
young women with pleasing manners should be employed so as to
act as show pieces in order to cater to the varied tastes of the
passengers when in fact older women with greater experience and
goodwill can look after the comforts of the passengers much better
E than a young woman can. Even if the Corporation had been
swayed or governed by these considerations, it must immediately
banish or efface the same from its approach. More particularly
such observations coming from a prestigious Corporation like A.I.
appear to be in bad taste and is proof positive of denigration of
the role of women and a demostration of male chauvinism and
F verily involves nay discloses an element of unfavourable bias against
the fair sex which is palpably unreasonable and smacks of pure
official arbitrariness. The observations of Sastri, C. J. in Kathi
Ran;ng Rawat"s case (supra) may be extiacted thus:

"All legislative differentiation is not necessarily dis·
G criminatory ......... Discrimination this involves an element
of unfavourable bias .. If such bias is disclosed ...... it may
well be that the statute will, without more, incur condem-
nation as violating a specific cilnstitutional prohibition."'

H At any rate, it is not possible for us to entertain such an
argument which must be rejected outright. In fact, there is no
AIR INDIA v. NERGESH MEERZA (Faza/ Ali, J.) 495

substantial and weighty reason for upholding the impugned provi- A
sions and this part of the line of reasoning adopted by the respon-
dent-Corporations cannot be countenanced.

In the same token it was contended by the counsel for the
petitioners that whereas the retirement age in a number of other
international airlines is 50 to 55 years, there is no reasonable basis 8
for keeping the retirement age of A.I. AHs at 35, extendable to
45 years. In proof of this argument a chart was submitted before
us of the various international airlines to show that the age of
retirement of AHs of those airlines was much more than those of
AHs employed by A.I.
c
In the first place, it is difficult to agree that the service
conditions which apply to foreign airlines, should pro tanto apply
to the employees of A.I. because the conditions of service including
the age of retirement depend on various geographical and economic
factors. Sometimes a small country may be rich enough or in view
of limited number of flights or small population, it can afford to
D
keep the AHs in service for a longer time. Local influences, social
conditions and legal or political pressures may account for the
terms and conditions to be fixed in the case of the AHs employed
by international airlines other than A.I. In view of these diverse
factors, it is not possible to easily infer unfavourable treatment to
the petitioners because certain more favourable conditions of service E
are offered by international airlines of other countries. For instance,
the retirement age of AHs in KLM (Royal Dutch) and Ghana
airlines is 50 years whereas in the case of Swiss airlines it is 57 and
in the case of Malaysian airlines it is 45 years. In the case of
Singapore airlines the retirement age of Check stewardess is 45 years.
Similarly, in other airlines like Austrian, Germanair, Lufthansa
F
and Nigeria Airways the retirement age of female AHs is 55
whereas in the case of Air International, U.T.A. (France) and Air
France it is 50. In case of Sudan Airways and British Airways the
retirement age is 60 whereas in Norda1r (Canada) and Transair
(Canada) airlines the age is 65 years.
G
A perusal of the scheme of retirement age given above would
clearly show that several considerations weigh with the Governments
or Corporations concerned in fixing the retirement age which would
naturally differ from country to country having regard to the various H
factors ·mentioned above. In fact, a similar grievance seems to
have been made before the Mahesh Tribunal which also pointed
496 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1982] I S.C.R.

A out that the social conditions in Europe and other countries being
different, the same rules could not apply to A.I. In this connection,
the Tribunal observed thus :

"There is no reason to have a different prov1Sion
regarding the air hostesses in Air India. The social condi-
B tions in Europe and eleswhere are different :rrom the social
conditions in India." .
,)

In this view of the matter the argument on this score must be
rejected. This Court has pointed out that there cannot be any cut
and dried formula for determining the age of retirement which is to
c be linked with various circumstances and a variety of factors.

We might further mention that even before the Mahesh Tribu-
nal, the stand taken by the AHs was merely that their age of
retirement should be extended to 45 years and they never put forward
or suggested any claim to increase the retirement age to 58 which
D clearly shows that their present claim is not merely belated but an
afterthought particularly because the Mahesh Tribunal was dealing
with this particular grievance and if the AHs were really serious in
getting their retirement age equated with that of the AFPs, i.e. 58,
they would not have failed to put forward this specific claim before
the Tribunal. This is yet another ground on which the claim of
E the AHs to be retired at the age of 58 cannot be entertained because
as we have already shown the Award binds the parties even though
its period may have expired.

This brings us now to the question as to whether or not the
impugned regulation suffers from any constitutional infirmity as it
F stands. The fixation of the age of retirement of AHs who fall
within a special class depends on various factors which have to be
taken into consideration by the employers. In the instant case, the
Corpo> ations have placed good material before us to snow some
'
justification for keeping the age of rerirement at 35 years (extend-
able upto 45 years) but the regulation seems to us to arm the
G
Managing Director with uncanalized and unguided discretion to
extend the age of AHs at his option which appears to us to suffer
from the vice of excessive delegation of powers. It is true that a
discretionary power may not necessarily be a discriminatory power
e but where a statute confers a power on an authority to decide
matters of moment without laying down any guidelines or principles
AIR INDIA v. NERGESH MEERZA (Paza/ Ali, J.)l 497

-- or norms the power has to be struck down as being violative of
Art. 14.
A

The doctrine of a provision suffering from the vice of excessive •
delegation of power has been explained and discussed in several
decisions of this Court. In Anwar Ali S1rkar' s case (supra) which
may justly be regarded as the locus classicus on the subject, Fazal B
Ali, J. (as he then was) clearly observed as follows :

"but the second criticism cannot be so easily met,
since an Act which gives uncontrolled authority to discrimi-
nate cannot but be hit by article 14 and it will be no answer
simply to say that the legislature having more or less the C
unlimited power to delegate has merely exercised that
power.

Secondly, the Act itself does not state that public D
interest and administrative exigencies will provide the
occasion for its application. Lastly, the discrimination
involved in the application of the Act is too evident to be
explained away."

and Mahajan, J. agreeing with the same expressed his views thus : E

"The present statute suggests no reasonable basis or
classification, either in respect of offences or in respect of
cases. It has laid down no yardstick or measure for the
grouping either of persons or of cases or of offences by
which measure these groups could be distinguisb.ed from F
those who are outside the purview of the Special Act. The
Act has left this matter entirely to the unregulated discre-
tion of the provincial government."
'
:Mukherjea, J. observed thus :
G
"In the case before us the language of section 5(I) is
perfectly clear and free from any ambiguity. It vests an
unrestricted discretion in the State Government to direct
any cases or classes of cases to be tried by the Special
Court in accordance with the procedure laid down in the H
Act ...... I am definitely of opinion that the necessity of a
speedier trial is too vague, uncertain and elusive a criterion
498 SUPREME COURT REPORTS• [ 1982) I S.C.R.

A to form a rational basis for the discriminations made ..... .
But the ;question is: how is this necessity of speedier trial
--
to be determiued ? Not by reference to the nature of the
offences or the circumstances under which or the area in
which they are committed, nor even by reference to any
peculiarities or antecedents of the offenders themselves,
B but the selection is left to the absolute and unfettered dis-
cretion of the executive government with nothing in the law ,r
to guide or control its action. This is not a reasonable
classification at all but an arbitrary selection."

and Cbandrasekhara Aiyar, J. elucidated the law thus :
c
"If the Act does not state what exactly are the offences
which in its opinion need a speedier trial and why it is so
considered, a mere statement in general words of the object
sought to be achieved, as we find in this case, is of no
avail because the classification, if any, is illusive or evasive.
D The policy or idea behind the classification should at least be
adumbrated, if not stated, so thut the Court which has to
decide on the constitutionality might be seized of something
on which it could base its view about the propriety of the
enactment from the standpoint of discrimination or equal
protection. Any arbitrary division or ridge will render the .....
E equal protection clause moribund or lifeless.

Apart from the absence of any reasonable or rational
classification, we have in this case the additional feature of
a carte blanche being given to the State Government to send
any offences or cases for trial by a Special Court."

and Bose, J. held thus: ,
"It is the differentiation which matters; the singling
out of cases or groups of cases, or even of offences or
G classes of offences, of a kind fraught with the most serious
consequences to the individuals concerned, for special, and
what some would regard as peculiar, treatment."

The five Judges whose decisions we have extracted constituted
H the majority decision of the Bench.
AIR INDIA v. NERGESH MEERZA (Fazal, AIU.) 499

In Lala Hari Chand Sard v. Mizo District Council and Anr.(1 ) A
it was highlighted that where a Regulation does not c~ntain any
principles or standard for the exercise of the executive power, it was
a bad regulation as being violative of Art. 14. In this connection,
the Court observed as follows :-

"A perusal of Regulation shows that it nowhere pro- 8
vides any principles or standards on which the Executive
Committee has to act in granting or refusing to grant the
licence ... There being no principles or standards laid down
in the Regulation there are obviously no restraints or
limits within which the power of the Executive Committee
to refuse to grant or renew a licence is to be exercised ... The c
power of refusal is thus left entirely unguided and untram-
melled.

A provision which leaves an unbridled power to an D
authority cannot in any sense be characterised as reasona-
ble. Section 3 of the Regulation is one such provison and
is therefore liable to be struck down as violative of Art. 19
(I) (g)."

To the same effect is another decision of this Court in State E
of Mysore v. S.R. Jayaram( 2 ) where the following observations were
made:

"The Rules are silent on the question as to how the
Government is to find out the suitability of a candidate for
a particular cadre ... lt follows that under the latter part of F
r.9 (2) it is open to the Government to say at its sweet will
that a candidate is more suitable for a particular cadre
and to deprive him of his opportunity to join the cadre for
which he indicated his preference.

G
We hold that the latter part of r. 9 (2) gives the
Government an arbitrary power of ignoring the just claims

(1) [1967] l SCR 1012.
(2) [1968] 1 SCR 349.
H
500 SUPREME COURTS REPORTS (1982) 1 S.C.R.

A of successful candidates for recruitment to offices under the
-~

State. It is violative of Arts. 14 and 16 (I) of the Constitu-
tion and must be struck down."

Here also the Rules were struck down because no principle
or guidelines were given by the statute to determine the suitability
B of a particular candi date.

Regulation 46 (i) (c) provides that an AH would retire on
attaining the age of 35 years or on marriage if it takes place within
four years of service. The last limb of this provision relating to
c first pregnancy in the case of AHs has already been struck down by
us and the remaining sub-clause (c) has to be read with Regula-
tion 47 which provides that the services of any employee may, at
the option of the Managing Director, on the employee being found
medically fit, be extended by one year beyond the age of retirement,
the aggregate period not exceeding two years. This provision
D applies to employees who retire at the age of 58. So far as the
AHs are concerned, under the Regulation the discretion is to be
exercised by the Managing Director to extend the period upto ten
years. In other words, the spirit of the Regulation is that an AH,
if medically fit, is likely to continue upto the age of 45 by yearly
extensions given by the Managing Director. Unfortunately, however,
E the real intention of the makers of the Regulations has not been
carried out because the Managing Directors has been given an
uncontrolled, unguided and absolute discretion to extend or not to
extend the period of retirement in the case of AHs after 35 years.
The words 'at the option' are wide enough to allow the Managing
Director to exercise his discretion in favour of one AH and not in
F favour of the other which may result in discrimination. The
Regulation does not provide any guidelines, rules, or principles
which may govern the exercise of the discretion by the Managing
Directer. Similarly, there is also no provision in the Regula~
tion reqmrmg the authorities to give reason for refusing to
extend the period of retirement of AHs. The provision does not
G even give any right of appeal to higher authorities against the order
passed by the Managing Director. Under the provision, as it stands,
the extension of the retirement of an AH is entirely at the mercy
and sweet will of the Managing Director. The conferment of such
a wide and uncontrolled power on the Managing Director is clearly
H violative of Art. 14, as the provision suffers from the vice of exces-
sive delegation of powers.
AIR INDIA v. NERGESH MEERZA (Paza/ Ali, J.) 501

For these reasons, therefore, we have no alternative but to A
strike down as invalid that part of Regulation 47 which gives option
to the Managing Director to extend the service of an AH. The
effect of striking down this provision would be that an AH, unless
the provision is suitably amended to bring it in comformity with
the provisions of Art. 14 would continue to retire at the age of 45
years and the Managing Director would be bound to grant yearly B
extensions as a matter of course, for a period of ten years if the AH
is found to be medically fit. This will prevent the Managing
Director from discriminating between one AH and another.

So far as the case of the AHs employed by I.A.C. is concerned,
the same reasons which we have detailed in the case of AHs em·
ployed by A.I. would apply with slight modifications which we shall
c
indicate hereafter. So far as the organisation of AHs employed by
J.A.C. is concerned, the cabin crew consisting of males are known as
_, flight stewards (F.S.) and those consising of females as AHs.~ There
are 105 posts of F.,Ss and 517 of AHs. It is also not disputed that
job functions of F.S. and the AHs are the same and in fact there D
are some flights in which the cabin crew c0nsists only of AHs. But
like the A.I. AHs, the mode of recruitment, conditions of service,
etc., are quite different in the case of F.Ss and AHs. The I.A.C.
also contended that FSs and AHs are two different categories with

-
different avenues of promotion. As in the case of A.I. AHs, a
declaration under the 1976 Act has also been made in the case of E
IAC, AHs.

The promotional avenues so far as the AHs are concerned are :
AH, Dy. Chief AH, and Chief AH. It is also alleged by the
Management and not disputed by the petitioners, that FSs and AHs
have got separate seniority and their promotion is made according F
to the separate seniority of each. Further, while the AHs have to
do a minimum period of three years, FSs are required to serve for
five years. Gratuity is payable to AHs after completion of 5 years'
' service whereas in the case of FSs it is payable after completion of
15 years of service. Similarly, retiral concessional passage is given
to AHs after completion of four years of service whereas to FSs it • G
is given after completion of seven years of service. It may be
specially noticed that while long service memento is given to an AH
after completion of ten years of service, to a FS it is given after com·
pletion of 25 years of service. Retirement benefit is given to an
AH on completion of ,15 years of service whereas to an F.S. H
it is given after ,30 years of service. Finally, retiral benefits are
given to an AH after completion of l 0 years of service but
502 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1982] J s.c.R.

A in the case of F.S. after twenty years of Service. These retiral benefits ' .
are really meant to compensate the AHs because they have to retire
at the age of 35, extendable up to 40, though the F.Ss retire at the
age of 58 years.

We might stress at the risk of repetition that in State of Mysore
8 v. M.N. Krishna Murthy and Ors.(') this Court clearly held that
where classes of service are different, inequality of promotional
avenues was legally permissible. In this connection, Beg, J. speaking .,...
for the Court observed as follows :

"If, on the facts of a particular case, the classes to be
c considered are really different, inequality of opportunity in
promotional chances may be justifiable."

Thus, there can be no doubt that the case of l.A.C. AHs is
exactly similar to the case of A.I. AHs and hence the complaint of
discrimination made by the petitioners has no substance.
0
The next argument is almost the same as in the case of A.I.
AHs, namely, retirement on first pregnancy and on marriage within
four years and retirement at 35 years extendable to 40 years.

E
So far as the age of retirement and termination of service on
first pregnancy is concerned a short history of the Rules made by
the I.A.C. may be given. Regulation 12 as it stood may be extracted
thns:
-
"Flying Crew shall be retained in the service of the
Corporation only for so long as they remain medically fit
F for flying duties ... Further, an Airhostess shall retire from the
service of Corporation on her attaining the age 0f 30 years
or when she gets married whichever is earlier. An un-
married Air Hostess may, however, in the interest of the
Corporation be retained in the service of the Corporation
upto the age of 35 years with the approval of the General
G· Manager."

It is obvious that under this Rule an AH had to retire at the
age of 30 years or when she got married and an unmarried AH
H
(!) [1973] 2 SCR 575.
AIR INDIA v. NERGESH MEERZA (Faza/ Ali, J.) 503

could continue upto 35 years. The rule was obviously unjust and A
discriminatory and was therefore amended by a Notification
published in the Gazette of India dated 13.7.1968. The amended
rule ran thus :

"An Airbostess shall retire from the service of the
Corporation on her attaining the age of 30 years or when B
she gets married, whichever is earlier. The General
Manager, may however, retain in the service an unmarried
I.
Air Hostess upto the age of 35 years."

This amendment continued the bar of marriage but gave dis-
cretion to the General Manager to retain an unmarried AH upto C
35 years. In order, however, to bring the provision in line with the
A.I. Regulation, the l.A.C. Regulation was further amended by a
Notification dated 12.4.80 published in Part III, Section 4,
Gazette of India by which para 3 of Regulation 12 was substituted
~s~ D
"An Air Hostess shall retire from the service of the
CorpG>ration upon attaining the age of 35 years or on
marriage if it takes place within four years of service or on
first pregnancy, whichever occurs earlier."
E
It appears that by a Settlement dated 10-1-1972, which was
accepted and relied upon by the Mahesh Tribunal the following
clause was incorporated in the Rule :

"An Air Hostess shall retire from the service of the
Corporation on her attaing the age of 30 years or when she F
gets married, whichever is earlier. The General Manager
n,ay, however, retain in service an unmarried air hostess
upto the age of 40 years."

The first part of this Regluation has become redundant in
view of the Notification dated 12.4.80, referred to above, but the G
latter part which gives the General Manager a blanket power to
retain an AH till the age of 40 years, still remains. As, however,
the bar of marriage is gone, the Rules of 1972 which empower the
General Manager to retain an AH in service will have to be read
as a power to retain an AH upto the age of 40 years. Thus, the
Notification as also the Rules suffer from two serious constitutional H
r infirmities which are present in the case of Regulation 46 framed by
504 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1982] I s.C.R.

A the A.I. The clauses regarding retirement and pregnancy will have
to be held as unconstitutional and therefore struck down. Secondly,
for the reasons that we have given in the case of A.I. AHs that
Regulation 46 contains an unguided and uncontrolled power and
therefore suffers from the vice of excessive delegation of powers, on
a parity of reasoning the power conferred on the General Manager
B to retain an AH upto the age of 40 years will have to be struck
down as invalid because it does not lay down any guidelines or
principles. Furthermore, as the cases of A.I. AHs and I.A.C. AHs
are identical, an extension upto the age 45 in the case of one and 40
in the case of other, amounts to discrimination inter se in the same
class of AHs and must be struck down on that ground also.
c
The ·result of our striking down these provisions is that like
A.I. AHs, I.A.C. AHs also would be entitled to their period of
retirement being extended upto 45 years until a suitable amendment
is made by the Management in the light of the observations made
by us.
D
For the reasons given above, therefore, the writ petitions are
allowed in part as indicated in the judgment and the Transfer case
is disposed of accordingly. So long as the Rule of I.A.C. is not
amended the General Manager will continue to extend the age of
retirement of I.A.C. AHs upto 45 years subject to their being found
E medically fit. In the circumstances of the case, there will be no
order as to costs.

N.K.A. Petitions partly al/owed.

l