“This Court cannot remain oblivious to the contemporary constitutional ethos of equality, inclusion and fair participation of women in public life. No provision of law has been shown which disentitles a woman from holding the office of Lumberdar,” a seven-page order authored by LHC judge Raheel Kamran stated, while allowing a female petitioner’s plea against the Lodhran deputy commissioner and the Board of Revenue orders appointing another person as permanent lumberdar.
Earlier, the petitioner’s father had served as the permanent lumberdar of the same village until his death.
The order stated that where a female candidate otherwise meets the relevant criteria and demonstrates competence, experience, and acceptability, her candidature must be given the same objective consideration as that of any male candidate.
“Rural governance and revenue administration benefit when capable women are allowed to participate in institutional roles historically monopolized by men.
“Such participation advances constitutional values of equal opportunity and strengthens public confidence in impartial administration. Any latent bias, direct or indirect, which diminishes a woman’s candidature for reasons unrelated to merit, cannot be countenanced,” the order said.
The court noted that the petitioner was not a stranger to village administration.
“The record shows that she had been functioning as Sarbarah Lumberdar since 2002 and had been assisting the deceased incumbent in discharge of official duties. Such long association with the office is a relevant factor, for appointment as Lumberdar is not ceremonial; it requires familiarity with revenue processes, communication with officials, local knowledge and public accessibility. Her hereditary claim, experience, landed interest and placement at the top of comparative merit after due proceedings could not have been displaced except on cogent, objective and legally sustainable grounds, which are absent in the instant case,” the order stated.
