New Delhi (11.07.2026): The Supreme Court of India on July 10 refused to grant relief to a petitioner, while upholding a 1993 Office Memorandum (OM) of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) that prevents female Indian Police Service (IPS) probationers from joining training for a one-year period following childbirth.

The plea was filed by Urvashi Sengar (IPS: 2023: MP). Disposing of the petition, The Apex Court declined to issue directions to allow her to participate in the current training session at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy in Hyderabad.

The court observed that three out of the nine weeks of the training at the academy have already been completed, and therefore it would not be appropriate for her to join midway, as she would not be able to undergo it properly. Even though the petition was rejected, the court took into record a submission by the Centre that Sengar's seniority would not be affected because of her inability to attend the ongoing training programme.